论中国古代国家福利制度特点、功能、局限与当代价值

On the Characteristics, Functions, Limitations and Contemporary Values of the State Welfare System in Ancient China

中国古代国家福利制度是指超越核心家庭之上的国家和政府对部分社会成员的物质援助行为。它具有形成时间较早、灾荒救济为主、老幼重点保障和政府主导为主的基本特点。整体上看,中国古代国家福利制度一方面具有恢复与维持再生产、维护社会安全稳定和恢复维持社会控制的历史功能;另一方面也表现在作用不够稳定、保障水平不高、维持基本生存和制度难以持久的历史局限性。其思想和制度措施对于现代中国国家福利制度具有五点借鉴意义:避免"西方中心论"影响,探索中国福利发展之路;吸收传统灾荒救济经验,建立福利动态调整机制;坚持发挥政府主导作用,吸收社会力量共同参与;注重底线福利制度供给,供给重点放在困难群体上;弘扬传统"尊老"福利文化,建设中国养老保障制度。

The state welfare system in ancient China refers to the material assistance of the state and the government to some social members beyond the nuclear family. It has the basic characteristics of early formation, famine relief, key security for the aged and children, and government led. On the one hand, the state welfare system in ancient China has the historical functions of restoring and maintaining reproduction, maintaining social security and stability, and restoring and maintaining social control;On the other hand, it also shows its historical limitations, such as its function is not stable enough, the level of security is not high, the basic survival is maintained and the system is difficult to last. Its thoughts and institutional measures are of five referential significance to the state welfare system of modern China: to avoid the influence of "western centralism" and to explore the way of welfare development in China;Absorb the experience of traditional famine relief and establish the dynamic adjustment mechanism of welfare;Insist on giving play to the leading role of the government and absorbing the participation of social forces;Pay attention to the bottom line welfare system supply, supply focus on vulnerable groups;Carry forward the traditional welfare culture of "respecting the elderly" and build China’s old-age security system.