《国语》对礼治的反思

“周公制礼”反映了先秦礼治思想的成熟。出现了周初的盛世后,“礼”在人们心目中地位更重要了。礼崩乐坏的社会变革时期,传统礼制不断受到冲击,正常的统治秩序被打破。一些恪守礼制的卿大夫们提出了“何以为治”的问题,并对礼治进行深刻的反思。《国语》记载了他们治国以礼的言论。他们主张对传统礼制进行切实的扬弃,合则留,不合则去。同时在评判事件和人物言行时,也不是简单地以“礼”或“非礼”为尺度,而能以变通的态度对待传统礼制,超越传统礼治思想的束缚。

Reflections on Government by Li in Guoyu

The story of "Zhougong Establishing Li" indicates the maturity of the thought of Government by Li.After the prosperity of the PreQin period,people thought more highly of the effect of Li.During the period of social changes in which Li was destroyed,the traditional system was constantly challenged,and the normal power order was subverted.Some ministers scrupulously abided by Li and proposed the question of how to rule a country and reflected over the thought of Government by Li.Guoyu recorded their opinions. They proposed to practically develop what is useful and discard what is not suitable.Moreover,they didn't make judgments simply by the principle of Li.They were flexible enough as to break through the limitations of the traditional thought of Li.