从《礼记》看汉代的亲、友关系 = Kinship and Friendship in Han China - The Case of Liji

Abstract

This thesis examines how and to what extent Confucianism had influenced the Han people in their interpersonal dealings, specifically, their kinships and friendships, through the Confucian classic of Liji. This thesis argues that although Confucian teachings on proprieties were an indispensable guidelines to the Han people in dealing with their kins and friends, it is in fact, the spirit of their age characterized as ¿faithfulness and truthfulness¿that fundamentally inspired their behaviour. Not only did the Han people practice propriety in this personal spirit in their kinships and friendships in accord to Confucian teachings, but they sometimes even crossed the limit that Confucian propriety allowed. This transgression can only be adequately explained by the spirit of faithfulness and truthfulness in the Han period when a sense of moral fulfillment through a person's total dedication and even sacrifice of his own life flourished.