佐藤一齋《言志四錄》的「天」思想及其意義

Abstract

日本儒者佐藤一齋以同時治朱子學與陽明學而聞名，為江戶時代末期的著名儒者之一。其所著之四本語錄《言志四錄》乃是其代表性著作，不僅在幕末時期成為武士們的愛讀之書，至今日仍一再出版，這說明了《言志四錄》是了解佐藤一齋思想的必備途徑，而一齋本人對幕末至今的影響力也值得重視。閱讀《言志四錄》時將會發現，「天」之概念在書中地位十分重要，且相當於一齋思想之基石所在。前人亦有關於《言志四錄》的「天」概念之分析論著，然不無可商榷之處。本文針對《言志四錄》的「天」重新加以分析以探索《言志四錄》之思想，從用例歸納其概念結構，回應前人說法，並說明一齋此思想所具備之意義。本文指出：一齋承繼了朱子學以來的理氣觀，肯定了「天理」的地位。「天」除了是萬物主宰之外，也承載了客觀普遍的道德規範，並非如相良亨所言，不含超越狀況的普遍判準。一齋不僅成功利用儒家理論提高日本主體性，也見證了儒學跨文化的適用性。這可以進一步給予人們啟示，對儒學作為並非中國所獨有，而是人類共同文化財時，其中所包含的上通於世界終極秩序的無限人性論，及挺立人類道德主體性、激發人類自我道德意識及其自信之功能與價值進行省思，以發揚其現代意義。This paper aims to the concept of “Heaven” to analyze the structure of Issai Sato who was an important Japanese Confucian in latter Edo Period andwas famous for his academic achievements on Shushigaku and Yomeigaku. From the latter Edo Period to Meiji Restoration, his analects Genshishirokuwas popular and usually read by samurais. Even now, it is published in Japan repeatedly. This appearance shows the importance of Issai Sato and hisGenshishiroku. We can also find that the concept of “Heaven” in Genshishiroku is the foundation of Issai Sato’s thought. It contains thesethree meanings: destiny, morality and creator. Through the concept of “Heaven” in Genshishiroku, we can discover the value of Confucianism asthe worldwide culture property.