荀子“礼者,养也”的多层意蕴及其不同效应

The Multiple Meanings and Various Impacts of Xunzi’s“Li Is for Nurturing”

作为对礼的最具概括性的表达,荀子的“礼者,养也”命题有着多层面的意蕴。在对人的普遍之养的形式之义之后,其实质意涵在于对不同身份之人的差序有别之养。其内容包括形身之养与灵性之养两个维度。养有所别的极致体现是尊君之养,即以礼彰显王者的至上地位与至尊之威。荀子试图通过激发王者对人生至境的追求,以其德与能求得天下安定,实现王者的内在欲求与万民福祉的双赢统一。这一思想与儒家的其他理路一起,促进了华夏民族特有的“圣王情结”的形成,最终对中国历史与传统政治文化产生了深远的影响。

As the most general expression of Li,Xunzi’s proposition that“Li is for nurturing”has a multiple meaning.Under the formal meaning that provides people a general benefits,there is the substantive meaning that provides people of different statuses with different benefits.This includes two dimensions-serving the body and cultivating the mind.The ultimate embodiment of providing different benefits emerges when worshipping kings,that is to manifest the supreme status and power of king with Li.In this way,by inspiring kings in their quest for supreme benefits,Xunzi attempts to achieve the double-win of king’s desire and human well-being,because the virtue and the ability of kings are most effective in building an ideal world.This idea,combined with other Confucian ideas,shapes the unique aspiration of being the Saint King of Chinese traditional notion,and it ultimately had a profound impact on Chinese history and traditional political culture.