《论语》“束脩”考——兼论“自行束脩以上”章

A Study of“Shuxiu”in The Analects of Confucius——On the relative chapter

《论语·述而》“自行束脩以上”章历来争论颇多,集中于“束脩”一词,并可分为“十脡脯”说、“年十五”说和“约束修饬”说三种说法。结合语境、文献看,“束脩”应当是指“十脡脯”,并且是常用的贽礼,兼具礼制价值与精神内涵,从而体现了孔子对礼制的推崇,也传达孔子的正名思想,以及有教无类、诲人不倦的精神和“忠恕”之道。

The chapter entitled“Zi Xing Shu Xiu Yi Shang(自行束修以上)”in The Analects of Confucius has long been controversial with disputes over the meaning of the word“shuxiu(束脩)”,to which there have been three interpretations:“ten pieces of meat”,“being fifteen years old”and“the cultivation of oneself”.Through an analysis of the literature and context,this paper thinks that the word means“ten pieces of meat”,which should have been a common gift to the teacher in the first visit,reflecting the value of the“etiquette”system and its spiritual connotation,and showing Confucius’promotion of the“etiquette”system,his idea of“proper name”(“zheng ming”),as well as the spirit of devoted teaching without discrimination and the principle of loyalty and forgiveness.