从西周德论系统看殷周之变

The Change from the Yin to the Zhou in the Light of the Western Zhou System of De(德)

“德”是西周思想的核心概念,厘清西周德论系统及其形成则是解决殷周之变中神道和人道之间的关系等重大问题的钥匙。“德”的本义是“得”,在西周时期特指得自天的“命”,由此引申出七个义项。其中,以人伦之德为主干的外在之德和以人性之德为主干的内在之德直接源自作为至上神的天,它们通过心的作用落实为行为之德、品行之德和治理之德。据此,殷周之际确实存在新旧文化的更替,但这种更替既不像孔子说的那么和缓,亦非王国维说的那么剧烈,而是新旧文化之间既有明显的延续,又有重大的变革。这场变革主要表现为神道与人道的合流,由此拉开了人类轴心时代的序幕。

“De”(virtue)was a core concept in Western Zhou thought.Clarification of Western Zhou thought on de and its formation is the key to solving such major problems as the relationship between heaven and man during the change over from the Yin to the Zhou dynasty.De originally referred to“gain,”but during the Western Zhou it was extended to mean the Mandate of Heaven bestowed on the Zhou,from which seven meanings were derived.The external virtue of human relations and the internal virtue of human nature came directly from Heaven as the supreme deity and were exercised in the virtues of behavior,conduct and governance through the action of the heart.Accordingly,the change from the Yin to the Zhou dynasty was indeed a change from an old to a new culture.This replacement,however,was neither as gentle as Confucius had said nor as drastic as Wang Guowei thought.Rather,there was a marked continuity alongside a significant change between the old and new.This was manifest as the confluence of Heaven and man,thus launching the prelude to the axial age of mankind.