中国古代儿童福利的理念与实践研究

On the Idea and Practice of the Child Welfare in Ancient Chinese Society

儿童是国家的未来和希望,保护儿童的生存、发展和参与等各项权利,已成为中国社会福利制度建设的重要内容。然而,儿童福利问题的理论研究远远不能满足儿童社会福利实践的需求。系统研究中国古代社会儿童的生存状态以及国家先后所进行的相关福利制度建设,探寻中国儿童福利制度发展的历史演变规律,将有助于解决目前社会转型带来的中国儿童发展问题。在"民本、仁爱"等儒家思想主导下的中国古代社会,儿童福利主要是由国家主导来保障实施的。如历朝历代通过赈济和赐恤孤幼,收养孤幼,孤幼犯罪减免刑罚、孤幼财产检校保全等措施适度保障了部分困境儿童的成长。其次,庇护同宗的理念促成宗族在恤孤方面发挥了主体作用,因此,宗教救助也成为中国古代儿童福利事业不可或缺的一部分。传统中国家国同构的社会形态造就了中国古代社会采用国家、宗族和宗教机构三者互构的儿童福利模式。

Children are the future and hope of the country.Protecting children's rights to survive,develop and participate in activities has become an important part of China's social welfare system.Yet the theories are far less enough to meet the demand of developing its social practice.It will help solve the problem of children's development in China caused by the current social transformation if we systematically study the living conditions of children in ancient Chinese society,the relevant construction of state welfare systems,as well as the history of China's children development welfare system.In the ancient Chinese society where Confucianism thoughts like"people-oriented"and"benevolent"prevailed,the welfare of children is mainly controlled by the state to ensure its implementation.For example,the past dynasties have appropriately guaranteed the growth of some orphans through relief,adoption of orphans and the reduction of punishment for them,and the scrutiny and preservation of children's property.The concept of sheltering fellow citizens contributed to the dominant role the patriarchal clan played in terms of compassion for orphans.Religious aid has also become an integral part of the children welfare in ancient China.The social formation of the traditional China conforms to the pattern of children welfare in ancient China with the reciprocal construction of nations,clans and religious institutions.