朱子《太极解义》的形上之思及其制度建构之策

The Metaphysical Contemplation of ZHU Xi's Taiji Jieyi and Strategies for Institutional Construction

《太极解义》脱胎于《太极图说》,在《太极解义》中朱子明确将“太极”释之为“本体”,并作为其理学形上学的最高范畴。借助这种本体论建构,朱子进一步充实了作为其思想基础的理气论与人性论学说,并逐步构筑起一个包含着伦理思想、政治设计和制度规划等丰富形下要素的、系统而又庞大的理学体系。检讨朱子的政治构想,无论是对德、礼、政、刑的系统阐述,还是对“严本宽济”以及“人治”主张的独特阐发,无不是基于他对《太极解义》及其所确立之理本论思想的发显与充实。同时,这种从着眼理论建构到完善制度设计的思路,不仅很好地呼应了“太极”与“人极”的彼此圆融,而且对儒家政治哲学的发展来说也是一次巨大的理论飞跃。

Taiji Jieyi was derived from Taichi Tu Shuo.In Taiji Jieyi,ZHU Xi explicitly interpreted Taiji as ontology and regarded it as the highest category of his Neo-Confucian metaphysics.With the ontological construction,ZHU Xi further enriched the theory of Li Qi(principle and vital energy)and human nature theory that form the foundation of his thoughts,and gradually built a systematic and vast Neo-Confucian system that includeed rich elements such as ethical thoughts,political design,and institutional planning.Reviewing ZHU Xi’s political ideas,both his systematic exposition of virtue,ritual,governance and penalty,and his unique elaboration on"strict foundation and lenient application"and the advocacy of"rule by humans"were all based on the revelation and enrichment of the ideas established in Taichi Jieyi and its ontological theory.Meanwhile,this approach from focusing on theoretical construction to improving institutional design would not only correspond well with the mutual harmony of Taiji and Renji(human extreme),but also represent a huge theoretical leap in the development of Confucian political philosophy.