荀子论礼的起源与性质

On the Origin and Nature of Rites by Xunzi

在先秦儒家对于礼的认识当中,荀子的礼学思想的发展是一个重要的历史阶段。荀子对于礼的起源与性质的思考是独特的,是对礼之存在的必要性以及正当性的回答。荀子对于礼的起源的回答是根据人性论和“礼之三本”论做出回答的,分别从人性中的性恶和“礼之三本”中的超越性、历史性和社会性来认识礼的来源;对于礼的性质则注重于从宗教性、伦理性和政治性三个方面展开论述。荀子对于礼的起源的追问,是为了论证礼的合理性,最终的目的是证明人不可须臾离开礼。

In the understanding of Confucianism in the pre-Qin Dynasty, the development of Xunzi’s thought of etiquette was an important historical stage. Xunzi’s thinking about the origin and nature of rites is unique and an answer to the necessity and legitimacy of the existence of rites. Xunzi’s answer to the origin of rites is based on the theory of human nature and the “Three books of rites”, from the human nature and the transcendence, history and society of the three books, respectively, and focuses on religion, ethics and politics. Xunzi’s inquiry about the origin of the ritual is to demonstrate the rationality of the ceremony, and the ultimate purpose is to prove that people must not leave the ceremony for a moment.