论荀子的“圣人制礼说”

On Xunzi's View that “the Rituals Were Invented by Sages”

基于对历史经验和社会现实的考察,荀子提出了礼的起源问题,并给出了"圣人制礼说"的回答。他认为,自历史发展之初,每个人都有因为无止的欲望而进行争夺的趋恶本性,导致社会生活变得资源短缺、混乱不堪。圣人对此"化性起伪",制作出了能够矫正人性、规范社会的"礼"。在荀子看来,"礼"产生于圣人的后天努力而非人的先天本性;圣人制礼,是实现、发挥自我价值及规范、引导社会的有力举措。

On the basis of his investigations into historical experiences and social realities, Xun zi （313-238 BCE） set forth the issue of the origin of ritual and gave an answer that it was the sages who invented the rituals. In his view, since the beginning of history, everyone had the innate nature of tending to become evil and engage in fighting on account of endless desire, which led to resource shortage and utter disorders in social life. In order to solve these problems, sages invented the rituals which could rectify human nature and normalize the society. From Xun zi＇s perspective, ＂Ritual＂ was a product of the sages＇ a posteriori efforts rather than that of their a priori innate nature; their invention of ritual was a realization and expansion of their self-value and a powerful measure to normalize and guide the society.