《论语》“民”、“人”的实际所指与词义特点

The Difference between Words "Min" and "Ren" in <the Analects of Confucius> (LunYu)

本文对《论语》中的单音词“民”与“人”的使用情况作了穷尽性的考察,认为《论语》“人”的词义主要指称“有仁德与才能者”、“在位者”;“民”的词义指称在“知”和“地位”上处于“下等”的众庶。“民”的词义特点是“下”,“人”的词义特点是“上”。这种“下”、“上”的区别反映出的社会现实是:在春秋时代,孔子与弟子有仁德,仁人、贤人、善土、人才有贤能,但不在位;而居于上位的君王、诸侯、卿大夫大多“不仁”、“不德”、“不贤”。众庶则处于为“君”所“使”的“低下”地位。

This article did a thorough research on the use of the single-syllable words 'Min' and 'Ren' in <the Analects of Confucius>, and concluded that: 1. 'Ren' was used to represent 'people who reign', or 'people who are humane and wise and capable'; and 2. The difference between 'Min' and 'Ren' is the difference between 'low' and 'high'. In the time of Chun Qiu, these two words were used to represent the difference in the following two aspects: 1. Confucius and his disciples and a lot of humane, wise and capable people did not reign, and emperors, vassals, and ministers, however, who were neither humane nor wise, resided in 'higher position'; 2. On the other hand, these words were used to express that the plebs were situated in a lower position in the society, a position to be called, handled, and manipulated, both in knowledge and action.