中国传统慈善思想及行为的现代审视

中国传统之“慈善”及其他相关语词的基本内涵,与现代“慈善”概念的基本精神相距甚远,有代表性之六种类型的传统慈善行为,具有浓郁的封建宗法性或宗教性,并不具备现代慈善事业所必备的非官方性和社会公益性。中国未来的社会慈善事业,必须适应社会时代的历史变迁,走出宗法、宗教思想传统,与现代公民社会的建设进行互动,才能健康发展,并成为建构和谐社会的重要支柱之一。

A Modern Perspective of the Chinese Traditional Philanthropic Thought and Behavior

The basic connotation of the word "philanthropy" and correlative words in Chinese tradition is far apart from the basic spirit of modern "philanthropy." The six representative traditional philanthropic behaviors, with the full-bodied feudalist patriarchal clan system or religious character, do not possess the nongovernmental and social commonweal characters which are essential to the modern philanthropic work.China's future social philanthropic work should adapt to the historical vicissitudes of the society and the age,take a step out of the tradition of patriarchal clan system and religious thought,and interact with the construction of modern civic society.Only through healthy development can it be one of the significant backbones in the construction of harmonious society.