中国古代民本思想的发展及其历史作用

The Development of the Thought of Taking People as Base and Its Historical Effect in Ancient China

民本思想或者说民本主义,是中国古代政治思想中民主性精华的核心。这不仅是因为民本思想在中国古代政治思想民主性精华的内容中居于主导地位,而且更因为民本思想以外的其他内容大都由它衍生和引申。民本思想是中国古代政治家与思想家对民众认识的最有价值的理念。征诸历史,凡是民本思想高扬的时代,也是古代各朝代执政者制定的政策既反映百姓的愿望,又反映历史发展要求的时代。不过,应该指出,它却不能与近代的民主思想划等号,封建制度下不可能孕育近代的民主思想。

The thought of taking people as base is the core of democratic ideas in ancient China's politics. It was not only the thought of taking people as base that was in the leading position in democratic ideas of ancient China's politics, but also the other thoughts derived from it. The thought of taking people as base was the most valuable wish of ancient Chinese politicians and thinkers. In all history periods, the thought of taking people as base was raised high, and the policies made by the rulers not only reflected the people' hopes, but also reflected the demand of history development However, it must be pointed out that it is not e-qual with the modern democratic ideas. Modern democratic ideas can't be gestated in feudal system.