“尽信《书》,则不如无《书》”——孟子经典阐释中的疑古精神

Mencius and his interpretations of classics

回到上下文语境进行分析,孟子"尽信《书》,则不如无《书》"的立论根据是认为《武成》"血之流杵"的记载不可靠,而此判断的根据则是"武王至仁"的先行观念。不惟《武成》篇,孟子以先行儒家观念来解释《诗》《书》是其释义学最重要的特点,其根本旨趣在于宣扬儒家思想,至于解说是否符合文本原意反而变得次要,当先行观念与文本记载发生剧烈冲突时,疑《书》思想的产生就成了逻辑上的必然。孟子是最早质疑经典的思想家,其思想在中国经典释义学史上影响深远。

After a thorough analysis, Mencius suspects the story recorded in Emperor Wucheng on basis of his argument. He takes Confucianism as a prerequisite to explain and pursue the original meanings of classics. When Confucianism fails to be consistent with the classical content, Mencius does not agree with the classics. His skeptical attitude to ancient history has a profound influence on later generations.