《论语·尧曰》“允执其中”三句新探  

A New Interpretation of Three Sentences in the Chapter Yao Yue of The Analects

作　　者：廖名春 LIAO Ming-chun

机构地区：[1]曲阜师范大学孔子文化研究院,山东省曲阜市273100 [2]清华大学历史系,北京市100084

出　　处：《南京大学学报(哲学.人文科学.社会科学)》2025年第1期129-137,159,160,共11页Journal of Nanjing University(Philosophy,Humanities and Social Sciences)

摘　　要：《论语·尧曰》“允执其中,四海困穷,天禄永终”三句有错简和脱文,当作:“允执其中,天禄永终;否则,四海困穷。”“允执其中”即“允执己中”,也就是好好把握住自己的思想、控制住内心的欲望,意思是要继位天子、以身作则,做克己修身的模范。《论语·颜渊》孔子的“克己”说、《礼记·大学》的“正心”说,正是这一思想的阐扬。“尧之所以授舜”“舜亦以命禹”的临终嘱托“允执其中,天禄永终;否则,四海困穷”,是规劝继位之君要“允执其(己)中”,以身作则,克己复礼。这种“为政以德”的模范政治,是以尧、舜为代表的上古政治文明的精华,至今仍有其现实意义。The three sentences“允执其中,四海困穷,天禄永终”in the Chapter Yao Yue of The An-alects of Confucius contains errors in arrangement and omissions,and should be realigned as:“允执其中,天禄永终;(否则)四海困穷.”“允执其中”should mean“允执已中”.It emphasizes that a newly enthroned ruler must be lead by example,practicing self-discipline and moral cultivation,echoing Confucius'self-restraint in the Chapter Yan Yuan of The Analects and rectification of the heart principle in the Chapter Da Xue of The Book of Rites,both being elaborations of this idea.The injunctions of Yao to Shun and Shun to Yu on the deathbed,“允执其中,天禄永终;四海困穷”,are exhortations to the successors to firmly hold onto their own inner moral principles and restrain personal desires(允执己中).If the ruler steadfastly adheres to his inner moral compass,then divine blessings will endure(天禄永终).And yet,if the ruler fails to maintain moral integrity,then the entire realm will suffer(四海困穷).This model of governance based on virtue,represented by Yao and Shun,is the essence of the ancient political civilization and remains profoundly relevant in modern governance and ethical leadership.

关 键 词：上古政治文明 为政以德 《论语》 允执其中 克己复礼 

分 类 号：G63[文化科学—教育学]