Confucian Interpretation of Rites

The study of etiquette is an idea put forward by Confucius in the Spring and Autumn Period, which embodies the spirit of etiquette, that is, order and system in the modern sense.

Confucius constructed a complete ideological system of "morality and morality" through "benevolence" and "courtesy". The theory of benevolence embodies the spirit of human nature, while the theory of propriety embodies the spirit of ritual system, that is, the order and system in the modern sense.

Humanism is the eternal theme of mankind, which is applicable to any society, any era and any government, and order and institutional society are the basic requirements for establishing a civilized human society. This humanitarianism and order spirit of Confucius is the essence of China's ancient social and political thought.

Confucian etiquette has three levels:

First, courtesy is a natural law.

Kong Bai's Book of Rites Justice says, "All philosophers should be reasonable. If you use it to rule, you will share prosperity with the world. " The ceremony here refers to the eternal and cosmic sky, which, in the words of westerners, is the natural law.

Etiquette is a system of rules that embodies the laws of nature.

"White Tiger Feelings" said: "The proprietors, do it, do it." From the perspective of the rule system, the ceremonies here can be divided into two categories:

1, etiquette.

Etiquette, in the feudal era of China, has a wide range of binding force, not only the people, but also the monarch, all within the constraints of etiquette. If the monarch is not a monarch, the vassal can send troops to conquer and restore the etiquette order by force. The so-called "where the monarch is not in his way, the princes will beg and stick to it". The relationship between monarch and minister is also a relationship of courtesy and law. Even if you are the monarch, if you violate the etiquette, I can bring a lawsuit and dissolve the relationship between the monarch and the minister by myself. Obviously, the rule of propriety is closer to the essence of modern rule of law.

2. Customs and habits

Rites are customs, that is, customary law and social spontaneous order. Rites are not established by kings, but come from traditions and customs, from the recognition of human feelings and common sense, and from the discovery of natural laws by sages. British political scientist edmund burke said, "If civil society is the product of customs and practices, then customs and practices are its laws." If you admit that he spoke the essence of the rule of law, then you should know that Confucianism also said so-the philosopher Zhen Xiude of the Southern Song Dynasty said: "The husband's decree must belong to the person, and Jewish politics must be due to customs." This language can be borrowed from Burke's words.

From this perspective, appropriate laws are not "invented" but "discovered". In the words of Confucianism, this is called "ritual making" and "hanging from the sky", that is, discovering human law from customary law and natural law; In Hayek's words, it is called "law precedes legislation". This is a very profound constitutional proposition, the essence of which is to declare that even the king who holds the highest power cannot become an arbitrary and omnipotent legislator. Legalists' proposition that "man is the master and law is supreme" clearly declares the coming of absolute monarchy.

Third, courtesy is etiquette.

As heaven, justice and natural law, ceremony is intangible, and as a planning system, ceremony is also semi-tangible and semi-intangible. The ceremony also needs a set of completely visible ceremonies to embody, express and strengthen, which is etiquette.

Confucian etiquette is all-encompassing, in the words of Quli: "Moral benevolence and righteousness are indecent; Lessons are common, and indecent assault is unprepared; Disputes and lawsuits, indecent assault; Monarch, up and down, father and son, brother, indecent assault; Official scholar, indecent; It is unacceptable for the class army to run the army and hand over the law to the official. It is dishonest to sacrifice ghosts and gods in the shrine. It is the respect, restraint and concession of a gentleman. "