论宋元理学的“尊德性”及其诗歌表达

On "Revering One’s Virtuous Nature" and Its Poetic Embodiment in the Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Yuan Dynasties

宋元理学"尊德性"话语的文化渊源,主要来自于三方面:原始儒家典籍中的"德""性"等文献记载;北宋"宋学"诸贤的心性主张;隋唐至北宋时期的道、释心性学说。宋元"尊德性"之"尊",自战国至宋代并无变化,为"敬重""推崇""重视"之意;其"德性"涵蕴,主要有"德性"为"天之正理""道体""心体""性体"等。朱熹认为"尊德性"与"道问学"并无高低之分;但陆九渊门人后学则以"尊德性"概括其学说要旨,"尊德性"因之而起到了统领、统摄其它话语范畴的作用;朱陆弟子进而以"尊德性""道问学"为陆九渊、朱熹学说的重要特征。稍后的真德秀、魏了翁、吴澄、许衡等,则从"尊德性"或"道问学"入手而调和朱陆,故宋末至元此两者又呈现为互相融合的特质。宋元理学的"尊德性"话语,在理学诗写作中得到重视,其主题诗歌类型有四,即:对性、道、德、天理等理学本体论重要范畴的书写或表达,对心性存养主题的书写或表达,对明理、明心、发明本心等理学内容的书写或表达,对"格物致知""格物明心"等内容的书写或表达。宋元"尊德性"主题诗歌类型,连同其它理学诗主题类型一起,共同表征为此期理学诗的特有面貌。

"Reverence for one's virtuous nature", a Neo-Confucian idea in Song and Yuan dynasties, could be traced back to three roots: the record of de( virtue) and xing( nature) in Confucian classics, propositions of Neo-Confucian philosophies on human mind in Northern Song Dynasty, and Taoist and Buddhist theories on human mind from Sui to North Song Dynasties. The "reverence" in this phrase remained unchanged from the Warring States Period to the Yuan Dynasty, meaning "respect", "honor" and "value". Virtuous nature carries the connotation of "natural law", "tao ti", "xin ti" and "xing ti". Zhu Xi viewed "reverence for one's virtuous nature" and "quest for knowledge" as fundamental approaches to practice Neo-Confucianism without discretion. Yet disciples of Lu Jiuyuan used "reverence for one's virtuous nature" as a generalization of his teachings, under which other discourses were organized. Followers of Zhu and Lu then recognized "reverence for one's virtuous nature" and "quest for knowledge" as important characteristics of their doctrine. However, before long, Zhen Dexiu, Wei Liaoweng, Wu Cheng, Xu Heng and other philosophers began to use these two expressions as an instrument to concert Zhu's and Lu's work, so the two gradually merged together in late Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty. The idea was much valued by Neo-Confucianists, who demonstrated it in their poems. Themes of those poems can be classified into the following types: description and expression of xing( nature), tao( way), de( virtue), tian( heaven) and other ontological concepts of Neo-Confucianism;description and expression of Neo-Confucian classic contents like "study things to acquire knowledge" and "obtain knowledge to illuminate heart", illustrating universal laws and being sincere to one's heart;and description and expression of "preserve and foster one's heart and nature". Poems themed on "reverence for one's virtuous nature" in Song and Yuan dynasties, together with Neo-Confucian poems themed on other matters, shape up Neo-Confucian poems in this period.