善生与善终:中国生命文化的安宁追求

Good Life and Good Death:Palliative Pursuit of Chinese Life Culture

中国传统生命文化立足于生死一体,有一整套对临终“安宁”的文化叙事。在根本理念上,强调“送死”是比“养生”更重要的人生大事,而能够“善终”则是人的幸福追求。在行为决策上,强调个人自主与家庭协商相结合的家庭自主模式;在策略路径上,主张遵守“礼制”,特别设计出一套临终礼仪,帮助人们走向“善终”;在目标价值上,强调“知生”以“知死”,活得好便可以死得好,由此可以实现生命价值的不朽;在精神信念上,则强调对“生死有命”的接纳,同时将“命限”转化为“使命”,从而升华对“天命”的体悟与认知,并在“生生不息”的信仰中接受死亡。

Chinese traditional life culture,based on the unity of life and death,has a set of cultural narrative of“Peace”at the end of life.In terms of the fundamental concept,it argues that“Death”is more important than“Health care”,and“Good death”is the pursuit of human happiness.In terms of the strategic path,it advocates to abide by the“Etiquette system”and specially designs a set of deathbed etiquette to help people reach a“Good end”.In terms of the goal value,it states that“Knowing life”helps“Knowing death”and living well can lead to dying well,thus realizing the immortality of life value.In terms of spiritual beliefs,it emphasizes the acceptance of“Life and death are destined”,and transforms“Life limit”into“Mission”,thus sublimating the recognition of“Destiny”and accepting death in the belief that“Life never ends”.