“观”与“问”:春秋知识传播的两个途径

“Observation” and “Consultation”:Two Ways of Knowledge Circulation during the Spring and Autumn Period

春秋时期,一些贵族大夫掌握了各类礼乐知识,他们以"信而有征"的话语方式,批评社会、讨论礼乐制度,被称为"博物君子"。西周辟雍和春秋泮宫,虽然有礼乐之教,但惠及人员有限,"观"和"问"是春秋贵族获得礼乐知识的两个重要途径。"观礼"作为一种礼教仪式,形成于西周的助祭制度、辟雍演示。春秋时,"观礼"制度松懈,通常被用来招待来聘者,这就使得贵族可以通过观礼、观乐、观诗来学习礼乐知识、体验礼教精神。同样,王侯大夫不再满足于"临事有瞽史之导",而主动"问礼"于巫史。周王朝衰颓,礼乐人员和文献典籍星散各地,为贵族"问礼"创造了条件。礼乐知识在世俗社会的传播,促进了私学的发展。孔子的礼乐知识主要来自"观"与"问",其教学也主要采用"观"与"问"两种方式。"观"与"问",对于春秋时期知识传播、文化转型有着重要意义。

Elite noblemen obtained various types of ritual knowledge during the Spring and Au-tumn period. They criticized the society and discussed ritual regulations through the language patternknown as 'being authentic and evidential'. 'Observation' and 'Consultation' became one of themain methods of gaining ritual knowledge for those elite noblemen of the Spring and Autumn period.'Observing Ritual'as a way of ritual cultivation was formed from the Institution of'Sacrifice-in-as-sistance'and Demonstration of Piyong during the Western Zhou. During the Spring and Autumn peri-od, the institution of'Observing Ritual'became loosened which was usually engaged with entertain-ing visitors. Thus the elite noblemen could study ritual and music knowledge and experience the spir-it of ritual cultivation through the observation of ritual, music, and songs. Accordingly, the princes,dukes and official scholars needed to initiatively consult ritual with sorcerers or historians. When theZhou dynasty declined, the performers of ritual and music as well as classical documents were scat-tered at different places, which created the condition for elite noblemen to'consult the ritual'. Theknowledge of ritual and music were circulated in the society which pushed forward the developmentof private studies. Confucius' s knowledge of ritual and music were mainly gained through 'observa-tion' and 'consultation'. His teachings also adopted these two methods in principle. 'Observation'and'consultation'were especially significant in the knowledge circulation and cultural transformationduring the Spring and Autumn period.