五德终始说与历史正统观

On the Theory of the Cyclic Revolution of Five Virtues

五德终始说实质上是一种历史正统观,其主要目的是为王朝更迭提供合法依据。战国中期邹衍创立此说;秦始皇借用此说以弥补法家思想缺少政权更迭和自然根据的不足。西汉中后期禅代之说再起,刘歆根据五行相生关系重新排列古代帝王系统,创立新五德终始说,成为“禅让”式政权更迭的理论依据,沿用达千年之久。从相胜到相生,五德终始说与中国古代历史理性从无情化到有情有理化的转变如出一辙,作为自然理性的一种,它与古希腊的自然理性有着不同的发展方向。

The theory of the cyclic revolution of five virtues is essentially about legitimate ruling, which serves the demise and superseding of royal courts. It was created in the mid Warring States period by Zou Yan. Emperor Qin Shi Huang adopted the doctrine to make up the lack of relevant theory in the Legalist School of Thought and evidence from nature. In the mid and late West Han Dynasty, the theory of the demise of royal courts was popularized again. Liu Xin formulated a new theory of the cyclic revolution of five virtues by rearranging the historical order of the monarchs and dynasties in ancient times before him. The new theory paved the way to the changes of dynasties through abdication. The theory lasted for as long as one thousand years. From conquering to birth-giving , the changes of the theory of the cyclic revolution of five virtues are exactly the same as the changes of the classical China historical reason from cruelty and brutality to sympathy and benevolence. However, as a kind of natural reason, its developmental orientation is completely different from the natural reason of ancient Greece.