“理”在工夫过程中的柔性化诠释

The Flexibility in Interpreting the " Heavenly Principles" in the Theory of Cultivation

朱熹工夫论具有述行式的特征,工夫就是反复述行'天理'的过程。在'理'之'所当然'的方面,工夫过程可以阐述为'心具众理',以明了心对性、情的主宰;而在'所以然'的方面,由'博'至'约'即工夫由乾转坤,在忠信传习的述行中给出对'天理'的'要约'。'理'的'所以然',是其'所当然'的'要求'给出的。这种要求体现在,义与智的用刚而体柔、仁与礼的用柔而体刚的空阙之间,由诗性的柔和模拟而要约出'理''德'的新意义。述行式的工夫过程,尤其在智、仁之际的空阙处,可以对'天理'的内涵给以革新性的要约。

Similar to the theory of speech act,Zhu Xi’s(1130-1200)theory of cultivation is to perform the'heavenly principles'repeatedly.When the'heavenly principles'refers to what ought to be done in one’s speech act,the cultivating process could be interpreted as'all the principles being grasped by the heart-mind'.When the'heavenly principles'refers to the actual reason of what one ought to be done,once the cultivating process turns from Way of Qian to Way of Kun,the meaning of the'heavenly principles'is only to be given in one’s speech act if this person is performing the principles faithfully and sincerely in the repeated process.In this light,the latter reference of the'heavenly principles'lies in the'demand'of the former.This demand is embodied in one’s poetically assuming and attuning the meaning of the'heavenly principles'and the'virtues'in the chora(or place Kongque空阙)between the solid functioning of Wisdom智and Optical Appropriateness义that are actually flexible in reality,and the flexible functioning of Expedient in the Way of Acting仁and Ritual Propriety礼that are actually solid in reality.The renewed meaning of the'heavenly principles'could be given in the cultivating process,that is,one’s speech act of performing the'heavenly principles',especially in the chora between Wisdom and Expedient in the Way of Acting.