圣王 Sage King
具有圣德的君王。具備圣德之人,即“圣人”,能夠基于對天道、人心的把握,制定、規(guī)范人倫生活的秩序與法則,其所言所行成為人倫世界的至高典范。如果君王能夠具備此種圣德,即被尊為“圣王”。在儒家的觀念中,“圣人”居于王位是最理想的政治狀態(tài)。但自孔子以降,儒家所認(rèn)可的“圣人”往往不得君王之位。
A king of great virtue, namely, a sage, by observing the way of heaven and based on his understanding of human nature, establishes social norms and laws to regulate public lives. What he says and does are thus the model for all to follow. If a king possesses such great virtue, he is called a sage king. According to Confucianism, if a sage becomes the king, he would create an ideal state of governance. However, those that Confucian scholars considered as sages never had the opportunity to become kings after Confucius' time.
引例 Citations:
◎辨莫大于分,分莫大于禮,禮莫大于圣王。(《荀子·非相》)
分辨事物最重要的莫過于確定名分,確定名分最重要的莫過于制定禮儀,制定禮儀最重要的莫過于效法圣王。
Determining social status is most important when it comes to distinguishing between things; establishing rites is most important for determining social status; and following sage kings is most important in establishing rites. (Xunzi)
◎故圣王修義之柄、禮之序,以治人情。(《禮記·禮運(yùn)》)
因此圣王確立義的根本原則、禮的秩序,用來治理人的情感活動。
Therefore a sage king establishes the fundamental principles of justice and the order of rites to regulate human feelings. (The Book of Rites)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學(xué) 外語教學(xué)與研究出版社
責(zé)任編輯:錢耐安