《大学》首句与周文政治理想

The First Sentence of the Great Learning(《大学》) and the Political Ideal of Etiquette and Music Civilization of the Zhou Dynasty

《大学》首句乃是全篇的宗旨所在。它以《周书》等所见的周文理想政治之传统为依据,提炼出儒学最高的实践理想。就其古义而言,“明明德”是在政治领域中显明其光明之德,亦即行明德之政。明德之政,除了恤民怀柔之外,很重要的一点是选贤任能。行明德之政,即亲民、安民的过程。在此意义上,“亲民”与“明明德”是一体之两面。其最终所达到的道德政治的理想境界,如文王后期之所至,即“止于至善”。《大学》首句是以平天下为视域,故其本义乃就最高处说。但在后续的论述中,则又可以作泛化的理解,普通人在各个层面都可以有相应的实践。后儒以“明明德”为修己,以“亲(或新)民”为治人,以立“三纲领”的结构,不是《大学》古义。

The first sentence of “The Great Learning” is the purpose of the whole article.It is based on the political ideal of etiquette and music civilization of the Zhou Dynasty seen in Zhou Shu.In the original sense,“Mingming De”( 明明德) is to show the bright virtue of the ruler in the political field.In addition to the benefit of the people,it is very important to select talents and appoint talents.This process is just what “being close to the people”( 亲民) means.The ideal state finally achieved,just like what King Wen of Zhou achieved in his later period,is to “stop at the best”( 止于至善).The first sentence of The Great Learning is from the perspective of the whole world,as far as the supreme ruler is concerned.However,in the subsequent discussion,we can also make a general understanding,and ordinary people can also have corresponding practice at all levels.Postconfucianists take “Mingming De” as their self-cultivation and “being close to the people”(or “Xinmin” 新民) as their governance,which is not the original meaning of the Great Learning.