近世「儒」的論說與變遷－－知識的典範轉移

Shifting Discourses on“Ru”in Modern China: A Paradigm Shift

本文論近世「儒」的論說與變遷，從蒙元修撰《宋史》、滿清修撰《明史》皆於「儒林傳」外另立「道學」或「理學傳」談起，檢討諸儒的言論，以見明清儒學典範轉移的關鍵。筆者揭示「儒林」一詞，認為歷史上「儒」為一群體形成之社會階層，與時代升降相為表裡，故「儒」的身分設定，取決於群體自覺，以及群儒的治學內容。明末儒學衰微，肇因於儒者耽於「理」的討論導致知識嚴重貧乏，由此而引起儒者掀起的知識多元化運動，從文章、經史、經世等各類知識充實儒學，進而奠立清代儒學的基調。明清儒學典範性轉化，實受惠於晚明儒學衰微的刺激。故清代多元而充實的儒學開花結果，實得力於晚明儒學的花落腐土，化為春泥。

Beginning from discussing the separation of lixue (理學) and daoxue (道學) from rulin zhuan (儒林傳) in Chinese dynastic histories, this paper discusses the shifting discourses on“Ru”in late imperial China and attempts to reexamine existing scholarship by revealing the key factors leading to the paradigm shift of Ruism in late imperial China. Base on the term rulin (儒林), the author considers“ru”to be a social class composed of literati who influenced history through their collective self-awareness as well as their way to define zhi (知, knowledge). The crisis of Ruism of the late Ming period was due to the fact that intellectual pursuance turned to be superficial and fragmented discussions of li (理, reason) instead of substantial integration of cross-disciplinary knowledge. The new paradigm of Qing Ruism essentially benefited from the flaws of the late Ming Ruism, moving away from empty discussions of li and revitalizing the integration of knowledge across multiple disciplines and levels.