《中庸》“知远之近”一节的教化哲学内涵

The Edificatory Philosophy Revealed in the Chapter of "Knowing What Is Distant Lies in What is Near" of the Zhongyong

对于《中庸》末章的"知远之近,知风之自,知微之显"三语,自古以来众说纷纭。遵循以《庸》释《庸》、《易》《庸》互训之法,可知三语乃睹末探本、层层递进之文,若与《大学》之八目相对应,那么"知远之近"相当于天下、国家之本在于家,"知风之自"相当于家之本在于身,"知微之显"相当于身之本在于心,在于正心、诚意。"微之显"意味着:隐微即见显、隐微必见显,故当慎其独以为入德之门。郑玄注及孔颖达疏及朱子之说皆有缺陷;而富有理智挑战性的俞樾之解既改字解经,又不顾"微之显"在两章中复出的一贯性,虽可姑备一说,亦非的解。此三语与《中庸》首章遥相呼应,深刻地表达了《中庸》以至诚之心修道立德、感通天下的教化哲学。

For the last chapter of the ZhongYong(The Doctrine of the Mean,an essay from the Book of Rites),the three sentences of“knowing what is distant lies in what,is near;knowing where the winds(moral influence)come from;knowing what is subtle is manifest”have been widely discussed since ancient times,but there still lacks a proper interpretation.Following the method of interpreting the ZhongYong by reference to the ZhongYong itself and the ZhouYi(the Book of Changes),this paper proposes that the logical relationship of those three sentences shows a development from the beginning which advances step by step:the root of the world and state being a family,the root of family being oneself,the root of oneself being the heart.Furthermore,what is secret and subtle is visible and manifest and will certainly be visible and manifest?and therefore cautiousness(watching over oneself when he/she is alone)is the entrance to virtue.Therefore,interpretations of Zheng Xuan,Kong Ying-da and Zhu Xi are not flawless.Besides,as for the most sensible and challenging interpretation put forward by Yu Yue,it not only alters the original text but also ignores the consistency of“what is subtle is manifested”in the two chapters,so it can only be seen as one idiosyncratic statement,but not a proper interpretation.The three sentences are in response to the first chapter,which convey profoundly the edificatory philosophy of the Zhongyong-cultivating the Way and refining one,s moral character with complete sincerity,hence spontaneously resonating with the world and exerting influence on it.