“民本”思想在中国古代国家治理中的实践

Practice of“People-Oriented”Ideology in Ancient Chinese Governance

“民本”思想是中国传统文化中极为重要的思想资源,其思想理念与内涵在中国古代国家治理的实践中得到了不同程度的贯彻。政在养民是统治者治理国家的根本目的,历代统治者通过劝课农桑、轻徭薄赋、兴修水利、开垦荒地、推广农技、赈灾济贫等方式发展生产,提高农业生产力,保障民众的基本生活。治吏安民是“民本”思想政治实践的重要手段,针对治吏安民,历代统治者采取了许多为政措施。治心教民是中国传统“民本”思想的最高目标,统治者提倡道德教化,用礼仪忠信和制度刑罚来引导、约束百姓,并通过君主的示范、地方官员的德政、学校的施教来实现这一目标。在中国古代,“民本”思想在统治机制的调节中发挥了积极作用。但传统“民本”思想的实质是“治民”,也凸显着它的历史局限性。

The“people-oriented”ideology is an extremely important ideological resource in Chinese traditional culture.Its ideological concepts and connotations have been implemented to varying degrees in the practice of governance in ancient China.The fundamental purpose of rulers in governing the country is to benefit the people.Throughout history,rulers have developed means such as promoting agriculture,reducing taxes and burdens,improving water conservancy,reclaiming wasteland,promoting agricultural techniques,and providing disaster relief and poverty alleviation to develop productivity and ensure the basic livelihood of the people.Governing officials and ensuring the people’s safety and wellbeing is an important means of implementing the“people-oriented”governance.Rulers throughout history have adopted various measures for this purpose.Educating the people’s hearts and minds is the ultimate goal of the traditional Chinese concept of“people-oriented”governance.Rulers advocate moral education,using rituals,loyalty,trust,and the punishment system to guide and constrain the people,and achieve this goal through the example of the monarch,the virtuous governance of local officials,and education in schools.In ancient China,the“people-oriented”ideology played an active role in the regulation of the ruling mechanism.However,the essence of the traditional“people-oriented”thinking is“governing the people”,which also highlights its historical limitations.