永不過時的“孝”文化

駱恒光

中國國學博大精深，是個探索不盡的寶庫。近幾年，隨著又一波研讀國學的熱潮到來，市面上涌現出很多相關的書籍，其中有一本很特別——徐繼宏主編的《二十四孝書法篆刻集》。從書名即可看出，其內容核心是“孝”，形式是書法和篆刻。

徐先生是我很熟悉的同道朋友，他為何選用書法篆刻來表現“孝”的主題，說來也是機緣巧合。徐先生18歲入伍，在部隊工作之余也常習文舞墨，頗有成果，并因此兩次榮立三等功。他轉業到地方后，從事新聞出版工作，對中國傳統文化愈加有濃厚的興趣，結識了不少文學藝術界的師友，故在書法篆刻上鉆研更深，多有造詣。在美麗的石頭上將金石書畫的藝術韻味與傳統孝文化范本融為一體，既具豐富內涵，又有雋永魅力，這是徐先生萌發策劃《二十四孝書法篆刻集》一書的初衷。

中國傳統文化從“孝道”“禮儀”開始，德孝是做人的最起碼要求，也是處世的最基本規范，凝結著中華文明的核心要義。《二十四孝》作為前人倡導孝行的范本，在中華民族的發展史上發揮過積極的作用。就文化傳承而言，取其精華，棄其糟粕，是任何一個時代都需要正視和面對的問題，有些故事比如棄官尋母、扇枕溫衾、滌親溺器、百里負米、戲彩娛親等，今天讀來依然讓人感動，也有借鑒意義;當然，有些事例比如恣蚊飽血、嘗糞憂心、埋兒奉母等則不合時宜了。

隨著我國人口老齡化趨勢的加劇，倡導孝文化，踐行孝為先，有著重要的時代意義。越來越多的空巢老人非常需要情感上的慰藉，老人的贍養、養老、臨終關懷等問題，都需要一份孝心來呵護。

曾有人說現在的社會世風日下、人心不古，縱然是由很多因素造成的，但優良傳統的缺失是一個重要的因素。《二十四孝》作為中國孝文化的專著，傳承至今已有600多年歷史。孝文化具有血濃于水的強大凝聚力，其本身蘊含著對祖先的崇拜、對親人的眷顧、對鄉土的依戀等豐富內涵，它是中國傳統社會的立國之本與社會之基，歷來為國人所重視和倡導。孝行作為中國傳統文化的首要價值觀和首德，仍然是當代中國人最為看重的核心價值之一，也是建設民族共同精神家園的精神基礎。

說起編輯意圖，徐先生說，他編輯此書正是因為看到俗話所言“百善孝為先”這一點，才付諸實施。

此書由西泠印社出版社出版后，徐先生送來一冊，粗略翻看，很是親切。書中匯集的不少作品出自西泠名家之手，而這些同道我大都相識相交，比如在當代印壇頗有影響、篆刻藝術造詣頗深的余正、鮑復興、吳靜初、吳瑩、李早等。在徐先生的相邀下，這些方家及后起之秀不吝指教，并以書刻鼎助，使此書有了熏陶人的藝術素養的作用。徐先生實在是頗具獨到的出版眼光的。

二十四位西泠印社中人，二十四方印章，二十四幅書法，還有印社執行社長、九二高齡的劉江先生題寫的書名。篆刻藝術之美、金石石質之美融為一體，賞心悅目，陶冶情操。

徐繼宏先生編著的《二十四孝書法篆刻集》是一本及時的、有助于正能量傳播的圖書，在將傳統美德發揚光大的同時，也給現代人帶來了精神食糧。孝是一個永恒的主題，此書也有著永不過時的啟迪作用和時代意義。

（本文圖片由徐繼宏提供）

Traditional sinology， or “National Studies” as often referred to in modern China， is a treasure trove. Recent years saw a new wave of passion in the studies of China-related subjects worldwide. One of the many published books related to this extensive and profound subject that caught my eyes is in Calligraphy and Seal-cutting， published by the Xiling Seal-engraving Society Press and compiled by Xu Jihong， a friend I have known for years.

Xu Jihong joined the army at the age of 18. In his army life， he spent most of his free time writing and practicing calligraphy as a hobby. After transferring to civilian work， he has been working in the press and publishing industry， building his connections in the literature and art circles and further honing his skills in calligraphy and seal-cutting.

The idea behind the book， that took many years to take shape， is to combine the significance of the unique filial culture of China with the beauty of Chinese seal-engraving art， and more importantly， to remind todays people that the filial piety will never go out of style.

is a classic text of Confucian filial piety written by Guo Jujing during the Yuan dynasty （1260-1368）. The text was extremely influential in the mediaeval Far East and was used to teach Confucian moral values.endprint

The concept of filial piety has played a strong role in Chinese culture and ethics since ancient times and encapsulates the sum and substance of traditional Chinese doctrines regarding how one should conduct in society. Although some of the stories depicted in the book， such as the tradition of filial mourning， in which a person had to temporarily put aside whatever he/she was doing when his/her parent（s） died and mourn for three years， and the extreme example of Guo Ju deciding to kill his son so that he could free up his sons share of the familys food consumption to feed his mother， are regarded as negative examples in contemporary times. And the sayings such as “When a ruler wants a subject to die， the subject must die; when a father wants a son to die， the son must die”， and “A loyal subject should be sought from a family with filial sons” have become outdated by modern standards.

For todays people， the teachings of the stories are still highly educational， especially in an aging society that has become a global issue. Chinas fast growing number of ‘empty nesters are creating a series of social problems， the solution of which boils down to more a spiritual issue than material support. In this sense， this is where the word ‘filial piety comes in.

It is important for todays younger generations to understand the message of many stories in the classic text by Guo Jujing. In “He Fanned the Pillow and Warmed the Blanket”， the author described how Huang Xiang fanned his fathers pillow to ensure that his father could sleep comfortably at night during summer and wrapped himself with his fathers blanket to warm it in winter. And it is not hard to be touched by the story “He Carried Rice for His Parent”， about a young Zhong You travelling a distance away from home and carrying back a sack of rice to feed his parents. He ate only wild vegetables. Many years later， when he became a wealthy official in the Chu state， his parents had already died. He often recalled his past and lamented， “I can never eat wild vegetables and carry rice back for my parents anymore.”

It is no exaggeration to say that the ancient text by Guo Jujing and the book by Xu provide timely food for thought for todays readers to reevaluate the moral value of ‘filial piety.

Liu Jiang， the 92-year-old chair of Xiling Seal-engraving Society， contributed the calligraphic title for the book. Many of the 24 calligraphic and 24 seal-cutting works included in Xus book are from masters representing the Xiling Seal-engraving Society.endprint