“中庸”的理念、历史与实践——论作为“道学”著作的《中庸》

The Idea,History and Practice of the “Mean”:The Doctrine of the Mean as a Masterpiece of Dao

《中庸》是一部以中庸之道为主题的道学著作。据《论语·尧曰》、古文《尚书·大禹谟》以及清华简《保训》等的记载,尧舜禹三代以来就已形成了以“中”为最高原则的政治传统。在相关思想叙事中,舜乃是中的思想的开端。他的“求中”、“得中”(《保训》),“执其两端,用其中于民”(《中庸》),实是“中”的原初实践的一个隐喻,揭示了中的当下实践与历史生成的基本逻辑。此后,中的具体性在历史进程中逐步展开,也逐渐凝聚而成特定的历史形态,如《洪范》的“皇极”和“王道”。孔子把“中”改造为“中庸”,与三代的“直”道相通,又以礼为中庸之道的基本内容,无疑是对以往中道传统的扩充。子思继承了这一传统,在《中庸》中,他对“中”的终极意义、“中庸”的本质结构、“中庸之道”的具体生成与历史形态等,作了详尽的阐述;又在德行体用论的结构中,突出阐明了修身成德的实践意义,以“诚”为核心,论述了修身成德的工夫与境界。根据子思之意,孔子由“祖述尧舜,宪章文武”而凝成的“君子之道”,实是中庸之道最圆满的现实形态,既是政治的根本,又是道德的极致。君子以此修身,可期待“君子而时中”,乃至“从容中道”的实践境界。要之,《中庸》全篇紧扣“中庸之道”展开环环相扣的阐述,乃是一篇思想系统、结构缜密的道学著作。但它不是本体意义上的道学,而是实践意义上的道学。《中庸》关于中庸之道的发生学考察,对于当下的道德生活、政治生活,也具有重要的启发意义。

According to the records of “Yao Yue” chapter in the Analects,“Da Yu Mo” in the Book of Documents,and “Bao Xun” in the Tsinghua bamboo slips,a political tradition based on the highest principle of “zhong” had been formed since the three dynasties of Yao,Shun,and Yu.In relevant literature,Shun initiated the idea of “zhong,”revealing the basic logic of the practice and historical generation of “zhong.” Afterwards,the specificity of “zhong”gradually emerged in the historical process and developed into specific historical forms,such as “ Huangji” and “Wangdao” in the chapter “Hongfan.” Confucius transformed “zhong” into “the mean,” and regarded propriety as its basic content.Zisi inherited this tradition.In The Doctrine of the Mean,he elaborated in detail on the ultimate meaning of the “ mean,” the essential structure of the “ mean,” the specific generation and historical form of the “mean.” According to Zisi,Confucius' s “way of being a gentleman” is the most perfect form of the mean.In short,The Doctrine of the Mean is a philosophical work with a systematic and meticulous structure,which also has important enlightening significance for current moral and political life.