论《论语》中的“禘”及其政治伦理意蕴

“禘”乃历代礼学考究之难点。《论语》中论“禘”之处仅二,后儒原“禘”主要基于文献考证学层面,征引经传子史弄清禘祭制度的本来意义与形态,然众说纷纭,莫衷一是,尚无定论。而对于殷周禘祭的实态或者说隐藏在禘祭制度中的政治、伦理乃至意识形态的关注甚少,《论语》中的“禘”恰恰又集中于此。再有孔子是否知“禘之说”以及为何“禘自既灌而往者,吾不欲观之矣”亦成悬案。因此,对“禘”及其相关问题予以梳理与澄明,意义颇大。

On Ancestral Sacrifice in Analects and Its Politico-Ethical Connotations

The term of “Ancestral Sacrifice”(di) has always been one of the sticking points in Ritual (li) studies and observations ever since ancient times, for the Analects has employed it only twice. Later Confucian scholars, in order to rediscover the original significance and form of the system indicated by the term by referring to Chinese classics, history, philosophy and belles-lettres, have interpreted and examined it mainly on the level of textual archeology only to no avail. However, they have seldom concern themselves with the modality of the system of “Ancestral Sacrifice”, or the politics, ethics and ideology hidden in it, whereas this is just what the Analects focuses upon. Moreover, whether Confucius is aware of the doctrine of “Ancestral Sacrifice”, and what is meant by “At the Ancestral Sacrifice, as for all that comes after the libation, I had far rather not witness it!”, are still unsettled cases. It is therefore of great significance to offer a clear explanation of “unsettled case” and the related questions.