代代相传：祭祖与祭孔的血缘性与非血缘性传统

中国传统中最重要的一种传承，便是血缘性的传承，所谓天地之道肇端于夫妇，一阴一阳之谓道，便是指此。殷周以后，血缘成形为宗法制度，所蔚成之氏族、宗族、宗庙、祖庙、太庙等，都是以血缘性为基础的传承，这是中国文化源远流长的传统中一条重要的主轴。另一条重要的主轴，形成较晚，从孔子开始。孔子被后世称之为素王、宣尼公、文宣王、尼父、大成至圣、先师，不论为公、为王、为圣、为师，为殷汤后、为文化垂统之征，都是指其在文化的周道既衰中，将文化的精义在授徒中传递下来，因而开启了一种中国式的非血缘性文化垂传授受之传统。而师生的传递是一种非血缘性的传承，师生关系便成为中国文化中文化性、精神性的一种特殊性格与结构。没有这种师生的学习与传授，中国文化便不会绵绵不绝、源远与流长。祖先与子孙，是血缘性的；而文化传递，却是师生的、非血缘性的。

From generation to generation: blood and non-blood tradition in ancester worship and Confucius commemoration

One of the most important transmissions in Chinese tradition is blood transmission. The Dao of heaven and earth originated from the couple, which is what we call Yin and Yang. Since Yin and Zhou dynasties, blood transmission formed the patriarchal system. The gens, the clan, the ancestral tem- ple, the ancestral shrine and the imperial ancestral temple have been all transmitted through blood. This is the principle clue for the long history of Chinese culture. Another principle clue had formed later since Confucius. Confucius had been honored as Su Wang, Xuanni Gong, Wenxuan Wang, Ni Fu, Great and holy, an exemplary model teacher. No matter what he was honored, the essence of Chinese culture was passed down by him through his teaching after Zhou Dao declined, which started the Chinese tradition of non-blood transmission. The transmission between the teachers and students is a non-blood transmission, which is a unique feature and structure in Chinese culture and spirit. Without this teaching and learning between the teachers and students, Chinese culture will not be of such a long history. The transmission between ancestors and descendants is a blood transmission while culture transmission is between the teachers and students which is a non-blood transmission.