美善之辩与古代文论

The Argument of Beauty and Good and Ancient Chinese Literary Theory

关于“美”与“善”,诸子各有分说,由可视可感的具体事物到笼统的人品道德,再到更为广泛的审美判断,这些论争对于后世文论的审美取向和伦理观念产生了深远影响。无论是儒家主张从实践层面贯彻美善思想,还是道家从更高层面理解美善,他们的相关思考对后世文论都产生深远影响。诸子对于美善的论辩,目的当然并不在于学理层面的抽象思考,而在现实生活层面的运用和实践,施之于中国古代文论,则形成源远流长的美刺传统。就古人的价值取向而言,圣贤们一般认为,美要以善为前提,不能只有外在的言辞之美,还要有思想内容的敦厚良善。用之于中国古代文论,则形成久远的温柔敦厚的诗教传统。

Concerningthe concepts of "beauty" and "good", the ancient Chinese scholars vary from the recognition visible and perceptible things to the generalization of character morality, and then to a broader aesthetic judgment. These debates made a profound impact on the aesthetic orientation and ethical concepts of later literary theories.Both the Confucian advocation of the implementation of the idea of beauty and goodness from the practical level andthe Taoist understanding of beauty and goodness from a higher level exerted a profound influence on the literary theory of later generations. However, the argument about beauty and good did not lie in academic abstract thinking;rather,it emphasized its application and practice to life, and it was applied to the ancient Chinese literary theory, it has helped create the long-standing tradition of the praise and satire. In terms of the value orientation, the ancient sages tended tosuggest that beauty be on the premise of good, and the external verbal beauty accord with the internal good in content. This idea was crucial to the formation of the traditional Chinese poetic education.