亲亲相互规正是儒家伦理的要则炯戒——“父为子隐,子为父隐”考辩

The Mutual Rectification between Kinfolks is the Key Principle of Confucian Ethics

“父为子隐,子为父隐”历来训释为父子相互匿过隐恶。这与我国传统文化崇德尚义、著诚重信的主流倾向相违背,也不符合孔子和早期儒家所倡导的“事父母几谏”“敬而无失”“义以为上”“从义不从父”等亲族伦理思想。从文字训诂、思想史和历史文献等方面综合考察,“父为子隐,子为父隐”应读为“父为子檃,子为父檃”。所谓“亲亲相隐”实际上是亲亲相互规正。这种解释是完全站得住脚的,应为破难解穴、刮垢磨光之达诂。

The saying“The father conceals the son’s doings,and the son conceals the father’s doings.”has always been interpreted as father and son conceal their sins for each other.This is contrary to the mainstream tendency of valuing morality and righteousness and honesty in traditional Chinese culture.It also does not accord with the ethical thoughts of kinship advocated by Confucius and early Confucianism,such as“admonishing parents several times”,“respecting without losing”,“putting justice first”and“following justice rather than the father”.Based on textual exegesis,ideological history and historical documents,“The father conceals the son’s doings,and the son conceals the father’s doings.”should be read as“the father should rectify the son’s behavior,and the son should rectify the father’s behavior”.The so-called“mutual concealment between kinfolks”is actually the mutual rectification between kinfolks.