庶民社會的儒家教化

Confucian Education in Folk Society

作為社會庶民的教化意義的儒家，在孔子就已經開始，如果將儒家在民間的教化抽離出來，則儒家嚴格言，將失去其在中國歷史中的本質，因為孔子的道德理想，是建立在深厚的庶民社會中，特別是以所謂「鄉約」、「鄉治」以及「宗族之學」或「民間會講」等方式而推行，成為中國人生活世界的活生生之生命源泉和土壤，而不是政治統治層面中的儒家政治思想和作為。本文主旨嘗試彰明詮解儒家的庶民社會之教育的重要存在性。行文從孔子啟始，驗證以《論語》章句的敘說，並析明宋明儒家在庶民社會中的德教的實施，且論及於明鄭和清代以降的臺灣民間深厚久遠的儒家教育之實踐。雖然已經邁入現代化，許多文教傳統已經消逝，可是在臺灣的庶民社會，還存在且運作著儒家的教化內容。

Since Confucius's time, Confucian education has been significantly implemented within plebeian's world. The function of mass education is essential to Confucianism in both ancient and modern China. “Local regulation”, “local administration”, “clan's academy” and “folk lecture” are some of the ways through which the Confucians propagate their moral philosophies; they are the foundation of Chinese culture which bring vitality to the Chinese's world. From such perspective, Confucianism is beyond something merely used for political manipulation and indoctrination. This article aims to illustrate the importance of mass education for Confucianism. It began with the Confucius and the Analects; followed by examination of the neo-Confucians' practices of social education during the period from the Sung Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty; and finally, the Confucian education in Taiwan from the time of Kingdom of Tungning to the Qing Dynasty. Despite many educational traditions have been lost during the process of modernization, the folk society in Taiwan is still deeply influenced by the Confucian legacy at present.