从“礼乐教化”到“无为自化”——论老子对晚周治理模式的反思

From“Educating the People with Rites and Music”to“Inaction and Make the People Self-Converted”——Laozi's Reflection on the Governance Model of the Late Zhou

生活在礼崩乐坏时代的老子,对周代的礼乐教化进行了深刻反思:一方面他阐释了古礼精神,主张“大制不割”,反对制定繁杂的名物制度;另一方面他批判“攘臂而扔之”的礼乐教化模式,认为其不能体现百姓的真实情感意志,限制了人性的自由发展。其主张君王应自觉节制权力,减少干涉,以辅百姓之“自然”而“无为”,保证民众在礼乐制度的创设与实施上实现人性自由。

Laozi,who lived in the era of ritual and music collapse,was very familiar with the civilization of ritual and music in the Zhou Dynasty,and he reflected deeply on its edification:on the one hand,he explained the spirit of ancient rituals,advocating“the original system without distinction”and opposing the establishment of a complex system of nouns and things;on the one hand,he criticized the ritualistic mode of education,which did not reflect the true emotional will of the people and restricted the free development of human nature.Laozi advocates that kings consciously restrain their power,reduce interference,and use“inaction”to assist the“nature”of the people,thus ensuring that the people realize the freedom of human nature in the creation and implementation of the ritual and music system.