The Natural State
質(zhì)樸。“素”本義為未染色的絲帛,“樸”本義為未經(jīng)加工的木材。古人引申其義,以“素樸”來指稱人與事物天生自然的本性或狀態(tài)?!八貥恪笔桥c后天的作為或干預(yù)相對的。以道家為代表,主張為政者應(yīng)以無為的方式保護(hù)百姓的“素樸”狀態(tài),避免對百姓施加過度的干預(yù)。但也有學(xué)派認(rèn)為,人和事物天生的材質(zhì)必須經(jīng)過后天的加工才能成就其功用。
The original meaning of su (素) is undyed natural colored silk. Pu (樸) refers to unprocessed wood. The extended meaning of the term is humans or anything that is in a basic, natural state or condition. The opposite is anything that is artificially altered or interfered with. Scholars of the Daoist school held that a ruler should protect the natural state of his subjects through non-action and avoid interfering too much with their lives. However, scholars of other schools maintained that the natural state of both humans and objects must be changed and molded in order to be of use.
引例 Citation:
◎夫至德之世,同與禽獸居,族與萬物并,惡(wū)乎知君子小人哉!同乎無知,其德不離;同乎無欲,是謂素樸。素樸而民性得矣。(《莊子·馬蹄》)
在最好的德治時(shí)代,與鳥獸一同居住,與萬物會(huì)聚在一起,怎么知道什么是君子小人呢!大家都無知,其德行就不會(huì)背離;大家都無貪欲,這就是素樸的狀態(tài)。在素樸的狀態(tài)下,民眾就能夠保持其本性了。
In the best times when virtue prevailed, when all creatures and things lived together, it was hard to tell which man was virtuous or petty. When all were without knowledge, virtue would not be violated. When all were in their natural state, people could retain their basic nature. (Zhuangzi)
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