孔子“思無邪”命題的再思考

Abstract

Confucius quoted many poems in his teachings, as seen in the transmitted Lunyu 論語 (Analects) and the excavated text Kongzi shi lun 孔子詩論 (Confucius’ Comments on the Book of Poetry). However, the poems Confucius quoted cannot be found in the transmitted text Shijing 詩經 (Book of Poetry), even though “quoting poems without distorting the context” (yin shi bu li qu yi 引詩不離句義) was always a basic principle when Confucius quoted and evaluated the Book of Poetry; this is also the fundamental starting point that allows us to grasp the true meaning of the expression “innocent thoughts” (si wu xie 思無邪). Though the expression “innocent thoughts” originally meant “never being skewed” on horseback, Confucius used it to summarize the artistic spirit of, and emphasize the “pure” thoughts and emotions in the Book of Poetry. However, the “pureness” in his teaching does not refer to the “pureness” of political education but the “pureness” of temperament, which highlights natural emotions and moral virtues such as honesty, uprightness, and integrity. In this regard, “innocent thoughts” actually require that the emotion of the poet should be taken from the heart without any artifice. This is because truth and sincerity are the main yardsticks of the poems, and the Book of Poetry also contains some sensuality.