法家对恩德文化的毁坏与儒法合流

The Destruction of Benevolence Culture by Legalism and the Convergence of Confucianism and Legalism

中国文化的核心是恩德,即以施恩—报恩作为人际关系的准则,形成了报父母之恩的孝、报君国之恩的忠等伦理范畴。中国恩德文化以儒家思想为代表,而法家思想是对恩德文化的反动,它以赏罚制度排除了恩德观念,冲击了家国同构伦理体系。法家的崛起毁坏了恩德文化,造成了秦代的大一统王朝。汉代改变了这个格局,恩德文化重新获得主导地位,不过法家思想也得到了一定的保留,形成了儒法合流的文化体系。谭嗣同、梁启超等认为,汉代以后的中国政治是秦政,这个论断虽然有抹杀德政之嫌,但也揭示了中国政治文化部分继承了秦代的法家政治、制度思想的事实。

The core of Chinese culture is benevolence,which establishes the principles of interpersonal relationships based on the concepts of bestowing kindness and repaying kindness.This has given rise to ethical categories such as filial piety in repaying parents'kindness and loyalty in repaying the kindness of the ruler and the country.Confucianism represents the benevolence culture in China,while Legalism opposes and reacts against the benevolence culture.Legalism,with its system of rewards and punishments,excludes the concept of benevolence,challenging the ethical-political system featuring the commensurability of family and state.The rise of Legalism resulted in the destruction of benevolence culture,leading to the unified empire of the Qin Dynasty.The Han Dynasty altered this pattern,allowing benevolence culture to regain dominance,though Legalism was also preserved to some extent,forming a cultural system of the convergence of Confucianism and Legalism.Scholars like Tan Sitong and Liang Qichao argue that the political culture of post-Han Dynasty can be seen as Qin's politics.While this assertion may seem to downplay the role of virtuous governance,it also reveals the factual continuity of Legalist political and institutional ideas in Chinese political culture after the Qin Dynasty.