礼治传统与中国古代象征性政治运作

The Tradition of Ritual Governance and the Symbolic Political Operations in Ancient China

传统中国的礼本质上是一种象征,是一套具有中国本土特色的象征符号体系。礼介入社会生活的方方面面,成为贯通“国”“家”“事”“人”的准则与规范,由此产生了古代中国的礼治传统,即将礼作为国家与社会治理的基本准则与法度,起到了宣扬、传导主流价值观念以及建构、确立社会分层与统治合法性的重要作用。受此影响,古代中国的政治运作也体现出强烈的象征性特色,即通过礼的反复操演,将其中所内涵的“理”“义”“仁”“合”“德”等天道与人伦理念,灌输于各阶层民众心目之中,并引致他们的感悟与认同,同时结合并辅之以实体权力运作与暴力强权,最终实现教化民众并规范社会秩序的目的。这一政治运作与社会治理模式背后的根本支撑,则是以传统儒家思想为主导的意识形态与价值观念。

The essence of traditional Chinese ritual is a symbol,a set of emblemaitc symbols with local Chinese characteristics.The intervention of ritual in all aspects of social life has become a criterion and norm that connects the state,family,affairs and people.This has given rise to the traditional rule of ritual in ancient China,which regards ritual as the basic principle and law of state and social governance,playing an important role in promoting and transmitting mainstream values,as well as constructing and establishing the legitimacy of social stratification and governance.It can be said that the political operations of ancient China also reflected strong symbolic characteristics,that is,through the repeated practice of rituals,the concepts of reason,righteousness,benevolence,harmony and virtue implied in them were instilled in the minds of people of all social classes,leading to their understanding and identification.At the same time,they were combined and supplemented with the operation of physical power and violent power,ultimately achieving the goal of educating the people and regulating social order.The fundamental support behind this political operation and social governance model is the ideology and values dominated by traditional Confucianism.