历代释 "忠" 述论

“忠”这个概念首见于《论语》。在先秦典籍中,对“忠”字的解释可谓多种多样,视角不同,侧重点各异,但基本上都是围绕人的心志展开论说,强调的是内心的真诚不欺和外在行为的大公无私。汉唐至明清时期,学者们对“忠”意蕴的诠释,具有较之以前明显不同的几个特点,具体说来就是:其一,许多学者都能自觉地运用声训、形训、义训等训诂方法释“忠”;其二,不少学者关于“忠”的训释是结合对《论语》文本的解读而进行的;其三,学者们的训释成果在一定程度上反映和体现了各自的时代特点和学派特点。近现代学者释“忠”,其最大的特点就是在荡除旧伦理、建设新道德的时代背景下,勇于剔除附加在忠范畴上的封建意识,并在复归其原初意义的同时,又赋予其以鲜明的时代精神,使“忠”这个古老的伦理概念重新焕发出生机与活力。

On Annotations of "Zhong" in Different Historical Periods

The concept of "zhong" firstly appeared in Analects of Confucius.In the works of pre-Qin Dynasty,the explanations of the word "zhong" varied from each other with different perspective and emphasis.The similarity lies in that they stressed inside sincerity and outside selflessness.From Han and Tang Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties,annotations of "zhong" were quite different from those before.Specifically speaking,firstly,many scholars explained "zhong" according to its pronunciation,form and meaning;secondly,some annotated "zhong" on the basis of the understanding of Analects of Confucius;thirdly,annotations of the scholars reflected features to some extent of their respective times and schools.However,the most prominent characteristic of the annotations by modern and contemporary scholars is to bravely get rid of the feudalism from the concept of "zhong" and endow it with distinct zeitgeist,which will make the old ethical concept vigorous again.