宋儒对尧舜时期“去凶举俊”难题的三重诠释

Three Different Interpretations on the Paradox of “Removing Evil Officials and Recommending Good Officials” in the Yao and Shun Period from Confucians in the Song Dynasty

尧舜时期,舜曾去除了朝廷之"四凶",荐举了在野的"十六俊",此事成为舜帝的重要政治功绩。《左传》在记述这一事件时,认为尧帝没有能力去做这些事情。这一评价显然表明了尧之政治能力不足,严重动摇了尧的圣人地位。于是,为了维护尧的圣人之品格,宋儒对此事件进行了不同角度的重新诠释。按照宋儒的诠释向度,可以分为理想主义、现实主义和境遇主义三种类型,每个解释向度都有其合理性,但也各自有其缺憾。这些诠释向度展示了宋儒持有的不同伦理观念,其中包含了义务论、功利主义等观念。

During the Yao and Shun period,Shun removed the four evil officials and recommended the sixteen good officials,which became an important political achievement of Emperor Shun.The author of Zuo Zhuan believed that Emperor Yao was incapable of doing these things.This evaluation clearly shows that Yao’s political ability is insufficient,which severely shakes Yao’s status as a saint.Therefore,in order to maintain Yao’s character as a saint,Confucians in the Song reinterpreted the history from a different perspective.According to the interpretation of Song Confucianism,it can be divided into three types:idealism,realism and situationalism.Each interpretation has its rationality,but it also has its own shortcomings.These interpretations show the different ethical concepts held by Song Confucianism,including deontology,utilitarianism and other ethical spirits.