引领历史向善——方孝孺的正统论及其史学影响

正统论是最富有民族特色的历史哲学,对于中国古代史学的发展具有深远影响。正统论在南宋时,由于理学发展和民族关系紧张等因素的影响,逐渐出现了一些新的理论趋向,更加强调对于历史的道德判断,而且在强调"尊王"的同时,还突出"攘夷"的内容。方孝孺的正统论是宋元以后最有影响的正统理论,其理论渊于浙东金华学派的"尊本明统"的正统说,其特点是极力突出历史道德判断的意义,即有意超越一时的已成事实之是非,以一相对恒常的道德标准裁量历史,引领历史向善的方向发展。但是与此同时,方孝孺也有一定调和道德判断与事实判断间矛盾的考量,提出所谓"变统"的理论。方孝孺的观点对以后的历史理论与史学实践都产生了重大影响。

Leading the history to good:Fang Xiao-ru's Legitimism and Its Influence on History

The Chinese legitimism, the doctrine of regime based on the mandate of Heaven, is the historical theory with the Chinese colour and therefore has a profound influence upon the historiography in ancient China. Owing to the formation of Lixue, the school of rationalization, and the tension between the Han Chinese regime and the minorities in the frontier areas around central China, some new tendencies of the development historiography are taking shape during the South Song dynasty. This theory emphasizes the moral judgment on history, focusing on resisting foreign invasions as well as paying tribute to the Han Chinese monarchs. Fang's legitimism is the most influential for the times to come, rooting in the legitimism of respecting the root and understanding the superseding of monarchs of the East Zhejiang School. It emphasizes the significance of the judgment by the pure morality, that is, transcending the finite and concrete standards of right and wrong on historical facts, but valuing these facts by has a special theory, the so-called adapted legitimism, based on the consideration of the remedy of the problem between moral and factual judgment. Fang's viewpoints have great significance on the later development of historical theory and practice.