中国传统社会民生建设的基础

The Foundation of People′s Livelihood Construction in Chinese Traditional Society

民生建设是一项历史性实践活动,早在春秋时期人们就使用了民生概念,后经历代先贤不断阐释而使其内涵变得丰富,并负有国家及社会治理的任务、使命,民生建设由此就具有民生治理意蕴。从历史上看,中国传统社会多采取"内圣"之法,依据"仁""义""礼",强调兴仁政、行其义、推礼治,开展救助救济性民生事业。在思想家们看来,行仁政就要合理分配土地、不误农时、制民恒产、轻徭薄赋以及照顾好弱者,让百姓安居乐业。这些措施的实行离不开君主守义,这是君主"王天下"的内在需要,君主行其义就须肩负起养老、育幼、托孤、接济、救助、赈灾等民生责任。在儒家看来,礼是国家治理的命门,推礼治当以保民生为先决条件,这蕴藏着君主对民众生产及基本生活的安排,体现了民生建设制度设计的基本要求。"仁""义""礼"由此成为传统社会开展民生治理的基础,民生建设具有了国家治理的意蕴与使命。

People′s livelihood construction is a historic practical activity.People used the concept as early as the Spring and Autumn Period,and then the concept′s connotation becoming enriched through the constant interpretation of generations of sages.It also has the task and mission of national and social governance,so people′s livelihood construction has the meaning of people′s livelihood governance.Historically,the traditional society mostly adopted the method of "internal sainthood",according to " Ren "," Yi " and " Li ",and emphasized the development of Ren government,the implementation of Yi and the rule of Li,to carry out relieving livelihood cause.In the view of thinkers,Ren government should rationally distribute land,not miss farming hours,control people′s permanent production,lighten taxes and take good care of the weak,so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment.The implementation of these measures cannot be separated from the monarch′s Yi,which is the inherent need of the monarch′s "King′s World".The monarch′s Yi requires that he shoulder the livelihood responsibilities of providing for the aged,nurturing children,fostering orphans,aiding the poor,relieving disasters,and so on.In the Confucian view,Li is the lifeblood of national governance.Ruling by Li based on the people′s livelihood.It contains monarch′s arrangement of people′s production and basic life,and embodies the basic requirements of the system design of people′s livelihood construction." Ren "," Yi " and " Li " have thus become the basis for the development of people′s livelihood governance in traditional society,and people′s livelihood construction has the implication of national governance.