礼与皇权的合法性——基于宋代“濮议”的考察

Li and the Legitimacy of Imperial Power——Centering on “Puyi” in the Song Dynasty

礼,作为中国古代的“大经大法”,促成了社会秩序和政治秩序中的差序格局,并且为这样的差序格局提供了根基。历代王朝都在向礼找寻精神上的支柱和心理上的依靠,统治者们利用礼获得了统治的正当性与合法性,同时也受到来自礼的束缚和制约。“濮议”是发生在北宋英宗朝、因皇位过继而引起的一场礼仪之争,争议各方都在维护赵宋皇权,从根本上来说都在维护传统宗法,并都致力于从礼的角度巩固英宗皇权的合法性。宋代“濮议”表明,礼从宗教、道德与制度三个层面对皇权合法性发挥了构建作用,但同时也对皇权进行了限制。

As the “Great Law” in ancient China, Li, which means propriety, contributed to the differential order pattern in social and political order, and provided the foundation for such a differential order pattern. All dynasties have been looking for spiritual and psychological support from Li. While the rulers used Li to obtain the legitimacy of their rule, they could not avoid being bound and restricted by Li. “Puyi” was a ritual dispute caused by the passing of the throne in the Song Yingzong period of Northern Song Dynasty. All parties in the dispute were safeguarding the imperial power of Northern Song Dynasty, fundamentally safeguarding the traditional patriarchal system, and were committed to consolidating the legitimacy of Song Yingzong’s imperial power from the perspective of Li. Focusing on the “Puyi” of Northern Song Dynasty, it can be concluded that Li played an important role in constructing the legitimacy of imperial power from the perspectives of religion, morality and system, but in the meantime Li restricted the imperial power.