《易传》忧患意识的历史考察

提倡“忧患意识”,是中国文化的一大特色。时刻保持警惕之心,不断进行反省悔悟的思维方式,在《周易》卦爻辞和《诗经》当中,均有所体现;到春秋时期,此种警惕戒惧的观念,也经常被人们所引用,强调要“居安思危,思则有备,有备无患”。而战国时期形成的《易传》,在此基础上又作了较为系统的阐发,明确地将“忧患”提升为范畴,自觉地倡导“忧患意识”,并初步建立起了一个理论体系,影响极其深远。历代易学家、思想家又加以凝炼和升华,使“忧患意识”成为中华民族的一大精神象征。《周易》在铸造中华民族精神方面作出了不可磨灭的重要贡献。

A Historical Survey of Suffering Awareness in the Book of Changes

It is a distinct characteristic to advocate "suffering awareness".In fact,the thinking mode of constant vigilance and repetitive reflection and repentance could find expression in the Book of Changes and the Book of Song.The idea of vigilance was always cited in the Spring and Autumn Period;then it emphasizes "danger awareness in peacetime,and thinking beforehand that dissolves possible worries ahead".And on that basis,The Interpretation of the Book of Changes formed during the Warring States Period,makes further systematic elucidations.It explicitly promotes "suffering" as a category,consciously initiates "suffering awareness",and sets up a tentative theoretical system that has a long and profound influence afterwards.Experts in the Book of Changes and in thoughts of later generations make continual distillations of it,which becomes an important spiritual symbol.Therefore,the Book of Changes has made great contributions to shaping the Chinese national spirit.