中华礼制:挑战与应对

Chinese Ritual System:Challenges and Countermeasures

以调节、规范各种社会关系为目的的中华传统礼制,以及在此基础上形成的儒家礼乐文明,因先天性地被赋予天理化、法条化的等级色彩,而成为历朝历代统治者政治思维的核心内容。其间内蕴的仁者爱人、内圣外王等思想精义,的确曾经在维护国家统一、促进民族融合、稳定社会秩序、和谐人际关系方面长期发挥过重要作用;但＂君臣父子＂＂三纲五常＂之类的意识形态说教,又是思想的枷锁和牢笼,阻碍和迟滞了中国社会的近现代转型。唐宋以降儒学自身的变异出新,中西文明百年以来的相激相融,中华民族伟大复兴的宏图愿景,则反复对中华礼制的学理演进、新旧转化与现实应对提出挑战与考验。为与人类迈向市场经济、民主政体、法治社会的共同发展目标相一致,经过现代性转换是传统礼制重现活力以服务现实的必要途径。这种转换理应崇尚实践理性的观念,秉持求同存异的立场,强调制度建设的主张,怀抱与时俱进的心态,如此才能实现中华礼制在社会核心价值观中的继承与改造,彰显其现代价值。

Confucian civilization of rites and music is based on Chinese traditional ritual system aiming at adjusting and regulating every kind of social relations,which has become the core contents of political thoughts of rulers in the passing dynasties because of their instinctive characteristics of apotheosis and legalization. The essence of thought,such as the benevolent love to others,as well as a saint from within and a king from without,has really played a long and important role in the unification of the country,ethnic fusion,stability of social orders and harmoniousness of interpersonal relationship. However,the ideological preaching of the emperor-subject and father-son relationships,and the so-called Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues have become the yoke of thought,and delayed the transformation of China into a modernized society.The self-innovation of Confucianism from Tang and Song Dynasties,the conflict and fusion of Chinese and Western civilizations in the passing 100 years and the grand expectation of Chinese revival,propose challenges and tests to the theoretical development,the old-to-new transition and the present countermeasures of Chinese ritual system. In order to keep consistent with the common development target that the whole human society steps into market economy,democracy and the rule of law,the traditional ritual system should have its modernized transition,which is a must to refill its vitalities so as to serve the reality. This kind of transition should advocate the concept of rational practice,keep the standpoint of seeking common points while reserving differences,emphasize the advocacy of institutional construction,and embrace the mind of keeping pace with the times. Only by doing so can we realize the inheritance and reform of Chinese ritual system under the social core values,manifesting its modern values.