“寺”“士”难料:乡村共同体与士的再造

新修、重修庙宇等已成为当下农村许多地方最重要的公共或家族事务(活动)之一,尤以我国东南沿海地区为甚。美轮美奂与香火燎绕的表象并不能遮蔽农村传统生活共同体趋于瓦解及信任体系崩坏的真实场景,如水银泻地无孔不入的商业利益在不断推高各地国民生产总值的同时,也在逐步消解基层政府的权威与行政能力;而早已退出历史舞台的乡绅阶层(士)在"政府"与"市场"之间扮演的角色地位与积极意义正有待于被重新评估。在农村复兴传统书院,或许可以为现代之"士"提供一个全新的安身立命之所在。

Monastery or Gentry:the Rural Community and the Reconstruction of the Gentry

The building or renovating of temples has now become the most important part of the public or family services(activities) in many rural areas,particularly China’s southeast coastal areas.The beautiful appearance and the incessant incense burning can not cover the disintegration of the traditional life in rural communities and the collapse of trust system.The all-pervasive business interests,like mercury spreading everywhere on the ground,continue to push upward the GNP while simultaneously leading to a gradual weakening of the grass-roots government authority and its administrative capacity.Therefore,the village gentry(shi),a class who has long stepped off the historic stage,is awaiting a re-evaluation of its positive role as something between the government and market.The restoration of traditional academy in rural areas might be a solution to the brand new proper place for modern gentry to settle down.