论董仲舒的五行思想

五行之间具有相胜与相生两种作用。战国后期,邹衍根据五行之间的相胜(相克)作用解释历史朝代的转移。西汉中期,董仲舒创立了五行相生说,以五行之间的相生作用解释儒家“忠”、“孝”的人伦准则。董仲舒以天之五行解释人之五官、五常、五事,把五官、五常、五事组入到五行构架中形成了“五行范式”。

On Dong Zhongshu''''s Doctrine of Five Elements

There are two forces, i.e. mutual restraint and mutual promotion among the five elements that include fire, water, wood, gold and earth. In the late Warring States era, Zouyan attempted to explain the reason for dynasty displacement with the principle of mutual restraint among the five elements. In the mid West Han Dynasty, Dongzhongshu had outlined the doctrine of five elements in mutual promotion, and tried to interpret Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety with the force of mutual promotion among the five elements. He had elucidated man's five positions, five constants, and five affairs including appearance, speech, sight, hearing, and thought in reference to the heavenly five elements, and configured his "five elements pattern" after inclusion of these factors into the framework of five elements.