论明代儒学的三种乡治模式

On Three Kinds of Confucianism-oriented Rural Governance in the Ming Dynasty

明代儒学的经世取向从宋代“得君行道”的上行路线转变为“化民成俗”的下行路线。面对社会世俗化趋势与社会关系变迁,儒学思想在乡村治理上发展出宗族、乡约、讲会三种典型模式。三种模式在乡村社会形成了较完备的组织结构,承担了较多治理职能,产生了较大社会影响,同时展现出儒家乡治实践的典型特征。基于血缘关系的宗族是儒家对传统乡治模式的接续发展,基于地缘关系的乡约是儒家在自身义理框架内的改良创造,基于“朋友之义”的讲会则是儒家突破传统义理的革命创新。三者在一定意义上代表了民间社会自治的力量,显示出儒学因应社会实际进行自我调适的实践成就。三种模式治理乡村社会之得失揭示出儒家思想与明代转型社会互动的历史逻辑。

In the Ming dynasty(1368-1644),the orientation of Confucianism of ruling the world changed from the upper lay of“seeking sagacious emperors to carry out Dao”in the Song Dynasty(960-1279)to the lower lay of“transforming the common people into new customs”.Facing the trend of secularization of society and the changes of social relations,Confucianism developed three typical models of ruling by patriarchal clan,ruling by village rules,and lecturing in assembly in rural governance.The three models formed a relatively complete organizational structure in the rural society,undertook many governance functions,had a great social impact,and showed a typical characteristics of the governance practice of Confucianism in the rural governance.The ruling through patriarchal clan based on blood relationship was the Confucian continuous development of the traditional rural governance model,the ruling by village rules based on geographical relationship was the improvement and creation of Confucianism within the framework of its own meanings and principles,and the lecturing in assembly based on“righteous relationship between friends”was the revolutionary innovation of Confucianism to break through the traditional meanings and principles.In a sense,the three represented the force of autonomic governance of civil society and manifested the practical achievements of Confucianism in self-adjustment to social reality.The gain and loss of the three modes of governance of rural society could reveal the historical logic of the interaction between Confucianism and the transitional society in the Ming dynasty.