從「音律」到「法律」──兼論荀子〈樂論〉與中國法思想的開展

From Yin-Lü (Music) to Fa-Lü (Law)—On the Xun-zi’s On Yue (Music) and the Development of Chinese Legal Thought

中國法律的起源，是中國法制史研究的重大課題。學者過去的研究，主要都將焦點集中到「禮刑」與「兵制」兩方面進行解釋。但無論是「禮刑論」或「兵刑論」，都不應忽略「樂」的重要性。本文基本上認為，「樂」在建構古代政治、社會或宇宙秩序中，有著相當重要的作用，並且經常與時代的治亂興衰有著密切聯繫。在規範社會秩序方面，「樂」應該具有與「禮」同樣重要的功能，進而影響中國法思想的開展。「律」原本是指「音律」，它的作用是「吹律定音」，由是構成「樂」的內容。換句話說，「律」是作為樂的「器」來使用的。「樂」在古代那種富有濃厚的宗教氣息的社會裡，是祭祀或宗教儀式的重要活動之一，並且具有協調宇宙社會秩序並使之達到和諧的功能，為了配合這種和諧的狀態，「律」當然也要有其一定的規制，其他一切法度、器用也由此而出，遂使「律」的意義自「音律」延伸而具有「法律」的意義。無論是音律或法律，其實都源自於「樂」。因此，應該更進一步探索「樂」與中國法思想發展的關係。先秦諸子中，荀子的樂論，承接了西周以來的音樂思想，發展了具體而完整的音樂理論，以作為全面駁斥墨子批判儒家的「非樂」思想；他的音樂思想及理論，為《禮記．樂記》所繼承，〈樂記〉又為《史記》〈樂書〉完全吸收。因此，荀子的樂論，具有承先啟後的意義，而且也最能夠反映出儒家禮樂合論的精神。分析荀子的樂論，同時也可以瞭解他對「樂」與「刑罰」之間的關係的看法。

The Original of the Chinese law is a major issue of the Chinese legal history. The traditional scholars mainly focus on two aspects to explain— “ritual punishment” (Li-Síng) and “military punishment” (Pin- Síng). No matter which one among the two explanation should not ignored the important of Yue (Music). This article argues that “music” plays an important role in the construction including the ancient political, social or cosmic order. Music often affected with the rise and fall of the imperial court. In the normative social order, the music should have equally important ceremonial function, and thereby affecting the conduct of Chinese Law. The originally Lü means “music”. Lü is used to make music “instruments”. In the ancient times, Yue (Music) was one of an important ritual or religious activities, and with the coordination of social order and the cosmic harmony function during that time. In order to coordinate with such a harmonious state, Lü has its rule, and then derivative to other systems. Therefore, it let the significance of Lü extends from the “Music” to the “Law”. In the pre-Qin Confucian thoughts, Xun Zi’s On Music inherited the musical thought since the Western Zhou Dynasty and then developed into specific and complete music theory. For his comprehensive critique of the Confucian counterattack Mozi’s Criticism Music thought. His musical thought and theory was inherited by Liji．Yueji, and then was completely absorbed by Yueshu in Historical Records. Therefore, the music theory of Xun-zi has the significance of past and future, even most can reflect on the Confucian spirit. Analysis Xunzi’s music theory can also understand his views on the relationship between “music” and “punishment”.