礼制与人情——从《礼记·檀弓》看礼制的中道原则

Rites and Human Relations: the Mean Doctrine of Rites as Seen in Tan Gong of The Book of Rites

儒家强调中道原则,认为凡事当把握适中的尺度,且这一适中尺度随时势而变动。儒家对中道原则的论述并非仅体现在说理上,而且体现在具体礼仪制度上。《礼记·檀弓》所记之事,较多地反映了时人及孔门师徒对古礼的处理;并在具体事件中阐释了儒家制礼的中道原则:一是在良莠不齐的众多人情中选取恰当的平衡点,二是在个人情感与流变的不同阶段中始终保持如一标准以维持中道,三是在虚文过盛的时代背景下选取尚质标准以补救时弊、达到中道。

Confucianism emphasizes the mean doctrine, which means being moderate in all things, and this rule of being moderate varies with the times. The Confucian interpretation of the doctrine is not only by reasoning, but also refected in specifc etiquette. Tan Gong of The Book of Rites refects the response of people at that time and Confucius and his disciples to the ancient rules of etiquette. It also expounds the middle ways of the Confucian rites through concrete events： selecting a balance point in all human relations; adhering to the same standard in different stages of individual emotions and development; reaching the mean doctrine in the background of the times.