“人心惟危,道心惟微”的治道内涵——对朱熹解读的重新思考

Governance Connotations of“The Human Heart is Perilous,the Moral Heart is Subtle”-A Rethinking of Zhu Xi’s Interpretation

古文《尚书·大禹谟》讲“人心惟危,道心惟微,惟精惟一,允执厥中”,接着又讲民之可畏、君民相须,讲“四海困穷,天禄永终”,要求重视百姓疾苦,实际上是就治道而言。历代儒家既有从治道层面予以解读,将“人心”解为“民心”的,也有从道德心性层面加以发挥,讲“天理”“人欲”的。朱熹早年把“惟精惟一”与儒家“南面亦恭己”的无为而治联系起来,后来又从治道层面强调君王应当敬守“虞廷十六字”,并且要求“谨守其所居之位,修其所愿欲之事”,尤其要体恤百姓,解救百姓之困穷。因此,朱熹后学把“虞廷十六字”当作为人之“心法”,而忽视其为君王治天下之法的治道内涵,并为今人所发挥,这样的理解似有偏颇。

The ancient Shang Shu Da Yu Mo stated that“The human heart is perilous,the moral heart is subtle,with utmost sincerity and singularity of purpose,uphold the mean with integrity”,then talked about the awe of the people and the mutual need for both ruler and people,and expressed that“the world is poor,and the land of heaven will be forever ended”,demanding paying attention to the suffering of the people,which was actually in terms of governance.Throughout history,Confucianists had interpreted“human heart”from the perspective of governance,interpreting it as“people’s mind”,as well as from the perspective of moral character,emphasizing“heavenly principles”and“human desires”.In his early years,Zhu Xi linked the concept of“with utmost sincerity and singularity of purpose”with the Confucian principle of governing by inaction while“Nan Mian Yi Gong Ji”,Later,from the perspective of governance,he emphasized that the king should respect and abide by the“Yu Ting 16 Words”,especially caring the people and rescuing them from poverty and hardship.Therefore,Zhu Xi’s later interpretation of the“Yu Ting 16 Words”as“heart method”,while ignoring its governance connotations,developed by modern people,seems to be biased.