蔡元培、陈寅恪对“三纲五常”的解读——兼论贺麟对“三纲”真义的发挥

Cai Yuanpei and Chen Yinke’s Interpretation of “Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues”——And He Lin’s Exertion of the True Meaning of “Three Cardinal Guides”

对于君臣、父子、夫妇关系,可以从权力的角度解读为君权、父权、夫权,既可以从利上讲,也可以从义上讲,这就是《白虎通》既讲“三纲”又讲“三纲”以“五常”为心性基础之意。蔡元培从权责上解读“三纲”,讲君与臣、父与子、夫与妇各有不同的权责,陈寅恪把“三纲”抽象理想地解读为君臣、父子、夫妇应当履行各自的权责与义务,都是从义上讲君臣、父子、夫妇关系。他们的解读,实际上是对《白虎通》“三纲”的进一步发挥,是贺麟所谓“三纲”的“真义”。

Regarding the relationship between monarch and ministers,father and sons,husband and wife,it can be interpreted as monarchy,patriarchy and husband’s power from the angle of power,that is, from the point of view of benefit,or from the point of view of justice. This is the meaning of Baihutong,which not only talks about the "Three Cardinal Guides",but also the "Three Cardinal Guides" based on the" Five Constant Virtues". Cai Yuanpei interprets the "Three Cardinal Guides" from the perspective of rights and responsibility,stressing that monarch and ministers,father and sons,husband and wife have different rights and responsibilities. Chen Yinque interprets the "Three Cardinal Guides" abstractly and ideally as that monarch and ministers,father and sons,husband and wife should fulfill their respective rights, responsibilities and obligations,which are all about the relationship between monarch and ministers,father and sons,and husband and wife,from the point of view of justice. Their interpretation,in fact,is a further development of the "Three Cardinal Guides" of Baihutong,which is He Lin’s so-called true meaning of "Three Cardinal Guides".