“法先王”与先秦儒学的历史意识

"Modeling Former Kings" and the Historical Consciousness of Confucianism in Pre-Qin Period

儒家的“法先王”思想中蕴含着强烈的历史意识,对过往的历史有着深切的关怀,重视对历史的记载、分析与解释,促进了中国传统史学的发展。从现实效用上看,“法先王”对历史的关怀最终必然指向对当下现实的关怀,效法先王的目的是为当下提供一个积极的向导。经过这种历史与现实的对接,“法先王”便自然催生出了以史惩劝的殷鉴思想,将史学作为彰善瘅恶的载体,开中国褒贬史学之先河。儒家的心性之学也以先王为根基而展开。

TConfucianism's thought of "modeling former kings"contains a strong sense of history and has a deep concern for the past history. It attaches great importance to historical records, analysis and interpretation. It promotes the development of Chinese traditional historiography. From the perspective of practical utility, the concern of the "modeling former kings"for history must ultimately point to the concern for the present reality and the purpose of "modeling former kings"is to provide a positive guide for the present. Through this connection between history and reality, the "modeling former kings"naturally gave birth to the thought of punishing and advising with history. It takes historiography as the carrier of revealing good and evil and pioneers the praise and derogation of historiography in China. Confucianism爷s theory of mind and nature is also developed on the basis of this thought.