中华礼乐文化 The Chinese Culture of Rites and Arts

通常说，在古代中国，社会与政治的秩序是二而一的；统治者与君子的个人品德保证国家健全。礼与乐是良好秩序的关键，因为当时的音乐是民间与官方礼仪的重点。

所以，政府如果重视实践最适宜的、在历代传统中选用的礼与乐，自然会产生有德行与快乐的百姓；律法已不必要，因为争论根本就不会发生。

在古代中国，最早的礼节是指律法条文与祭拜上天之灵的正式仪式。周朝就有了成熟仪式来规化人们的行为、协调冲突、人际关系与确保完好的人事管理。以礼促进社会秩序，终止纷争与惩罚战乱，调节奢侈与损耗。礼是人们对他的生活与工作的满意的前提。

孔子提倡礼为一种理想的准则与典范。他崇拜周礼，曾说：‘周監於二代，郁郁乎文哉！吾從周。’可是，在他那时候，人们渐渐地偏离周礼，这就是他开始再度提倡周礼的原因。

《周礼》中的《文王世子第八》（约公元前1073）就这么说：‘凡三王教世子必以礼乐。乐，所以修内也；礼，所以修外也。礼乐交错于中， 发形于外，是故其成也怿，恭敬而温文。’

就是说，所有先王都同样重视礼与乐的教育。两者关系密切，礼融于乐而乐参透所有礼节。它们纵横交错，各有重点。

这就是中国的礼乐文化。

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Generally speaking, in ancient China, social and political orders were the same, and the personal virtue of rulers and gentlemen ensured the health of the state. The keys to good order were rites (li) and music, for Chinese music of the period was central to customary and official rites.

Therefore, a government that pay great attention to practice the most fitting rites and music, selected from the various available traditions, would automatically produce virtuous and happy citizens; laws would be almost unnecessary because disputes would never arise.

The earliest rites (li) in ancient China refer to regulations on the articles and ritual formalities for offering sacrifice to heavenly spirits. A sophisticated system of li came into being in the Zhou Dynasty to regulate people’s conducts, reconcile conflicts, coordinate interpersonal relationship and ensure perfect management of personnel affairs. Li makes social order, puts an end to contentions and scourge of war and moderates extravagance and dissipation. Li is the premises of people’s happiness about their lives and work.

Confucius advocates li as a desirable standard and norm. He admired the li of Zhou and once said, 'Zhou had the advantage of learning from the two past dynasties. How complete and elegant are its regulations! I follow Zhou.' However, during his time, people gradually drifted away from the rites of the Zhou, and this is the reason why Confucius began to advocate it once more.

The Records of Rites depicts the education of Wen Wang (Civil King, c.1073 BC):

The kings of the three dynasties (Xia, Shang and Zhou, c.2100-c.771 BC) taught their princes li (rites) and yue (music). For music is used to cultivate one’s mind, and rites, to train one’s manners and behaviours. For those have internalised both Li and Yue, the result will be reflected in their pleasant appearances, respectful and gentle behaviours.

That is to say, all the early kings paid equal stress on the education of rites and music. The two are closely related to each other with rites dissolving in the form of music and music permeating through the field of rites. They are interwoven and each has its particular stress.

Such is the Chinese culture of Rites and Arts.