中华慈善文化及其传承与创新

Chinese Charity Culture and Its Inheritance and Innovation

慈善文化是慈善事业生命力的延续和再现,是社会文化的重要组成部分,包含着文化应有的物的(表层)、心的(里层)、心物结合的(中间层)三个层次。古代慈善文化扎根于传统文化的土壤,以政府救助为主体。到了近代,形成了新的思想理念,救助主体也转向了民间,而且出现了慈善家群体,且其救助机构多样,善款来源广泛,救济范围广阔,有了一定的慈善法制建设,体现出浓厚的民族性和文化精神。到了当代,慈善文化曾一度断层,但出现了政府主导的官办慈善与民办慈善并存的局面。慈善史研究应注重弘扬慈善文化的优良传统,坚持慈善文化的传承与创新。

Charity culture is the continuation and reappearance of the vitality of charity,as well as an important part of social culture,which consists of three levels:the surface level,the inner level and the middle level.The basic characteristics of ancient charity culture are as follows:the ancient charity culture was rooted in the soil of traditional culture and the government was the main body of relief.In modern times,new ideas were formed,the main body of succor shifted to the civilian population,and the philanthropist groups emerged.Moreover,the relief institutions were diversified,the sources of charitable funds became extensive,and the scope of relief was expanded.There was even a construction of legal system in charity,which manifested strong national characters and cultural spirit.In contemporary times,the charity culture was once discontinued,but in this period,government-run and private charities coexisted.In a word,promoting and developing charity culture should combine inheritance and innovation.