先秦尊天情结述论

Review on the “Zun Tian” Complex in the Pre-Qin Period

自古以来,中国文化可以说是一种崇天的文化。天不是位格化的绝对实体,而是一个"如在"的神圣对象。古人借天命论证政权的合法性,或借天来约束君权,其深层都是德的观念。此时,"天"代表着正义或神圣的宇宙法则,对人构成一种道德律令。天地因其化育万物、公而不私、予而不争等德性,被古人当作人类行为的伟大典范。古人尊天、法天的主旨是以德性来配天,即依照所谓的天德行事,以天来指引人的在世方式。如果人的德性达到了天的高度,便是"天人合一"。

Since ancient times,Chinese culture is a kind of culture in which ＂Tian（ 天） ＂is worshiped.＂Tian＂is not an intentional personality,but a divine object which appears to exist. Ancient Chinese demonstrated the regime＇s legitimacy by ＂Tian Ming（ 天命） ＂,and restricted monarchical power by ＂Tian＂. The core of such practices is the notion of virtue. Here,＂Tian＂stands for divine justice or universal principle. Therefore,it becomes a moral imperative for men. ＂Tian＂is believed to have such so-called virtues as bringing up all cosmic beings,being impartial,giving but never taking,so it is regarded by ancient Chinese as a great paradigm of human behavior. The main purpose of worshiping and imitating ＂Tian＂is to match ＂Tian＂with virtue,that is,to act or to guide man ＇s way of living according to virtues of ＂Tian ＂. Once an individual ＇s moral realm has reached the height of ＂Tian＂,we can describe this phenomenon as ＂Tian Ren He Yi（ 天人合一） ＂.