《论语》“克己复礼为仁”章新诠——一种荀学的进路

New Interpretations of the Chapter“To Subdue One’s Self and Return to Propriety so as to Accomplish Benevolence”in the Analects——An Approach from the Xunzi

孔子论仁,存在以成己安人为仁、以忠恕释仁以及克己复礼为仁三个不同维度,孔子的礼则包含等级名分、伦理规范、礼仪礼节等不同含义。在仁、礼关系上,孔子既"以仁释礼",也"以礼成仁",呈现复杂的面相。目前,学术界用"以仁释礼"或"仁本礼用"来理解孔子的仁、礼关系,这是不全面的。《论语》"克己复礼为仁"章,其中"克己"指克制过度的欲望,"复礼"指复兴礼乐秩序,由于礼乐秩序消除了争夺、混乱,维护了人们的生命安全和物质财产,所以可称为仁。而礼乐秩序一旦建立起来,人们便会归向、趋向之,也就是归向仁了。该章所论实际是"以礼成仁",认为好的制度即是仁。它是孔子仁、礼关系的一个重要方面,继承这一思想的是荀子,而非孟子。以往学者将"克己复礼为仁"理解为修身,或者认为恢复周礼,都失之片面。只有从荀学的进路,才有可能对该章做出正确的解读。

Confucius discusses benevolence from three different perspectives,namely to embody benevolence by means of accomplishing oneself while making others content,to interpret benevolence using loyalty and forgiveness,and to accomplish benevolence by subduing one’s self and returning to propriety.When Confucius discussed propriety,its connotations include hierarchy,proper names,ethical rules,and ritual principles.In terms of the relationships between benevolence and propriety,the current scholarly understandings are incomplete,either using benevolence to interpret ritual or understanding benevolence as essence with propriety as practice.The chapter"to subdue one’s self and return to propriety so as to accomplish benevolence"in the Analects is the key to a new understanding provided by the Xunzi."To subdue one’s self"refers to restraining overly indulged desires."To return to propriety"refers to the reestablishment of the orders of ritual and music.With the orders of ritual and music,chaos and strife will be stopped,human lives and property can be protected,and in this sense,it can be understood as benevolence.More importantly,once the orders of ritual and music are established,people will be inclined to belong to it,desire for it,and accordingly return to benevolence.This paper argues that the chapter of"To subdue one’s self and return to propriety so as to accomplish benevolence"in the Analects is in fact a discussion of"using ritual to accomplish benevolence",regarding ordered propriety as benevolence.This is an important aspect of the relationship between benevolence and propriety in the Analects proposed by the Xunzi.Traditional understandings limit the interpretations of this chapter either to moral cultivation,or returning to the Rituals of the Zhou.Only once we understand it through this approach provided by the Xunzi,can we make the correct interpretation of this chapter.