汉代“正统论”溯源——从“灾异天谴论”到“符命授受说”的历史演变

The Origin of Orthodoxy in the Han Dynasty——The Historical Evolution from the“Theory of Calamity and Natural Punishment”to the“Theory of AcceptingHeavenlyOrders”

西汉儒者正式提出“正统论”大致包括三个方面,即空间(大一统)、时间(五德终始循环论)和“德性”的养成。但西汉帝王一度热衷于肉身成仙、长生不朽之术,大多痴迷于齐地方士编造的圣王神迹故事,儒生建议帝王在天降灾异时修身养德的谏言往往无效。在儒生的“天谴灾异说”和方士的“圣身仙化说”之间,儒家明显处于下风。于是儒生改弦更张,效法方士,通过制作谶纬经书,同时唤醒最初儒家的“巫祝”身份,把孔子比拟为远古圣王,为汉帝制法。这批人被称之为“方士化儒生”,而“方士化儒生”诡称孔子接受上天的符命,通过制造一种天人沟通的新型“政治神话”,提前为汉帝当“新王”作出预测,汉帝成为孔子预言的执行者,最终形成儒家立义、帝王立制的双轨统治局面。

Confucian scholars in the Western Han Dynasty formally put forward the“orthodoxy theory”,which roughly includes three aspects:space(unification),time(the theory of five virtues ending in circulation)and the cultivation of virtue.The emperors of the Western Han Dynasty were once keen on becoming immortals.The Confucian theory of“calamities punishmentfrom Heaven”is obviously inferior.So the Confucian scholars changed their ways,and at the same time awakened the original Confucian identity of“witch wish”,and compared Confucius to the ancient holy king,which was the imperial law of the Han Dynasty.Thescholars were called“Confucians transformed by alchemists”,who falsely claimed that Confucius accepted thedestiny from heaven and made a new“political myth”of communication between heaven and man,and predicted that the Han Emperor would become the“new king”in advance.In this way,the Han Emperor became the executor of Confucius’prophecy,and finally formed the dual track ruling situation of Confucianism and monarchy.