在政治伦理的传统与启蒙之间:明末清初士人的君主论

Between the Traditional and Enlightened Political Ethics:The Theory of Monarchy in the Late Ming and the Early Qing Dynasties

明末清初士人对君主的热烈讨论,有着深刻的历史根源和现实根源。这一时期的君主论有着鲜明的时代特色,其一,“罪君”意识非常强烈,人们极力揭露君主本性之恶,把乱天下的根源归之于君。其二,理性看待君主地位,提出“抑尊”,破除君主神圣的既有观念,将君主还原为“人”,具有重估君主地位的意味。其三,明确把君主分为三代之君和秦以降之君两种类型,极力批判秦汉以来帝王的“专私”。其四,开始从制度层面认识君主,把对帝王的道德约束转变为权力制衡,提出种种制约绝对君权的制度设计,试图以制度规范君主行为。明末清初的君主论虽然到处呈现出政治批判的锋芒和理性思维的火花,蕴含着启蒙思想的因素,但始终未能走出传统政治伦理与思维的圈子。

In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties,scholars discussed on the theory of monarchy actively,which is due to historical and realistic needs.The theory of monarchy in this period had some features.Firstly,the consciousness of“criticizing the monarchy”was very obvious.Scholars made their endeavour to expose the evils of the monarchy and blamed the emperors for social unrest.Secondly,the scholars treated the status of monarchs rationally,putting forward the theory that“emperors should be shackled”,and broke the concept of monarchy being sacred,viewed the emperors as mortals.Thirdly,the monarchs were divided into the monarchs of the ancient Chinese who were in Three Dynasties,namely,Xia,Shang and Zhou and the emperors since the Qin Dynasty,the latter who regarded the nations as their“private property”were criticized.Fourthly,the monarchy was researched based on institution,and the theory of restricting emperors'authority by moral strength was replaced by theory of balancing of power,various institutions were put forward to restrict the absolute monarchy.Although the theory of monarchy in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties showed some new enlightening features,the traditional political thought wouldn't be abandoned.