作为儒家法律思想基础的“天”

“Heaven”as the Basis of Confucian Legal Thought

“天”是儒家法律思想中的基础性范畴;学界对中国古代“天”的内涵理解不一,各种观点异彩纷呈。按照儒家之集大成者朱熹对“天”的理解,可以将“天”总结为“物质自然之天”“神灵主宰之天”“义理规则之天”三个方面。今日看来,这三个方面又可以整合为“位格之天”,荀子、朱子以及王阳明对“天”的理解皆莫出其右。“位格之天”显明了“天”的生命属性、伦理属性以及至高、永恒等属性,其不仅创生了万物与人类,还对万物和人类拥有主权;权力的来源、法律的创制、司法的过程等儒家法律思想核心问题,无不与“天”有关。对儒家之“天”进行本体性思考,可以使人更深刻地认识中国传统法律文化的本源和根基。

“Heaven”is the fundamental ontological concept in Confucian legal thought.Scholars have different understandings of the“Heaven”in ancient China,and various views are diverse.According to Zhuxi’s understanding of“Heaven”,who is the master of Confucianism,“Heaven”can be summarized into three aspects:“the heaven of material nature”,“the heaven of god domination”,and“the heaven of righteous rules”.Today,it seems that these three aspects can be integrated into the“Heaven of the Person”.Xunzi,Zhuzi,and Wang Yangming’s understanding of“Heaven”can be included into the scope of“Heaven of the Person”.The“Heaven of the Person”reveals that“Heaven”has the attributes of life,ethical,supreme and attribute of eternal,which not only created all things and human beings,but also has sovereignty over all things and human beings.The core issues of legal thought,such as the source of power,the legislation of laws,administration,and the process of justice,are all related to“Heaven”.Ontological study on the“Heaven”of Confucianism can enable people to understand the origin and foundation of traditional legal culture more deeply in ancient China.