时、空与人的生存——《老子·第三十一章》新解

Space, Time and Human Existence:A New Explanation of Chapter 31 in Laozi

《老子•第三十一章》对礼的肯定主要在于礼能够维持人现有的生存状态,不使其继续坠落。这个肯定主要体现在“吉事尚左,凶事尚右”。吉凶是人生存中最基本的要素,同时也蕴涵了老子的时间观念。左右则蕴涵了老子的空间观念。时空观念与人生存状态是息息相关的。时空观念在道、礼、战争三个层面的变化,蕴含了人生存状态的变化,也表明了老子对人不同生存状态的评价。

The affirmation of rite in Chapter 31 of the Laozi lies in the fact that rite can maintain the status of human existence and keep it from falling.This affirmation is incarnated in“good omens belong on the left;bad omens belong on the right”.Good omens and bad omens are the most basic elements of human existence.They also contain Laozi concept of time.Meanwhile,left and right contain Laozi concept of space.The concept of time and the concept of space are closely related to the state of human existence.Changes of them in Tao,rite and war imply changes of human existence,and also indicate Laozi evaluation of human existence.