商略



史學篇
“浙學”肇始于南宋,連綿不絕,直至明、清依然大放光彩。其時間跨度之久、涉及學術種類之廣、參與學者之眾,在幾千年的中國學術史上是極為罕見的。“浙東學派”最重要的成就是史學。本文針對“浙學”漸變“浙東史學”這一現象,對“浙東史學”尤其是其開創者黃宗羲的學術傳統、治學方法及學術環境等方面進行多視角剖析,追溯其淵源。
“浙東學派”一詞,源于南宋之“浙學”。“浙學”包含兩層意思:一是“浙”字,即兩浙路之統稱;二是“學”字,即以儒學為主要治學方向。南宋時期,大儒朱熹對“浙學”抱有極大偏見,稱“近世言浙學者,多尚事功”(朱熹《范香溪先生小傳》,《范香溪先生文集》卷首),“浙學卻專是功利”(《朱子語類》卷一二三),“浙學尤更丑陋,如潘步昌、呂子約之徒,皆已深陷其中不知”(《晦庵先生朱文公文集》卷五十《答程正思》)。且不論朱熹的批判是否恰當,從中卻正可說明南宋兩浙學術已具備了相當的規模與體系。近人朱曉鵬《浙學芻議——浙學傳統與浙江精神研究之一》認為:“宋元時期,學者們已公認存在著一個主要由婺州學派和永嘉學派等構成的‘浙學,并且已了然其學術思想的傳承脈絡。”也就是說,南宋的“浙學”,與同時期的閩學、湖學、贛學一樣,成為了國內主要的地域性儒學流派。
一
明末清初,黃宗羲與顧炎武并稱“開國儒宗”,然“浙東貴專家,浙西尚博雅,各因其習而習”(章學誠《文史通義》內篇),“浙學”遂有“浙東”“浙西”之分。梁啟超《清代學術概論》也有類似劃分:“大抵清代經學之祖推炎武,其史學之祖當推宗羲。”黃宗羲在《移史館論不宜立理學傳書》中,首倡了“浙東學派”一詞:“言浙東學派最多流弊……凡海內之知學者,要皆東浙之所衣被也。今忘其衣被之功,徒訾其流弊之失,無乃刻乎?”
明末清初,黃宗羲率其后來者走出了一條自成系統的治史道路,后世稱之“浙東史學”。梁啟超云:“浙東學風,自梨洲、季野、謝山以至章實齋,厘然自成一系統,而其貢獻最大者,實在史學。”(《清代學術概論》)如此,“浙東學派”順理成章地成為了“浙東史學”。梁啟超《中國學術思想變遷之大勢》強調:“浙東學派……其源出于梨洲、季野而尊史,其巨子曰邵二云、全謝山、章實齋。……吾于浙派中,寧尊浙東。”他的《中國近三百年學術史》一文,則試圖厘清“浙東史學”的流變:“明清嬗代之際,王門下惟蕺山一派獨盛,學風已漸趨健實……而梨洲影響于后來者尤大。梨洲為清代浙東學派之開創者,其派復衍為二:一為史學,二即王學。”
但“浙東學派”與“浙東史學”,在概念上還是有相當大的差別。因為“學術”的范疇,遠比“史學”來得大。傳統儒家學術體系,包括了“經史子集”,“史學”只是其中的一個分支。清季以來,浙東學術之精髓在于史學,是后代學者所公認的。但上溯其嬗變,可以發現“浙學”中的史學傾向,自南宋以來已成其傳統。如朱熹批判“浙學”,也是基于兩浙學者“由儒入史”的現象,他說:“伯恭之學大概尊《史記》,以為先黃老,后六經,此自是太史談之學。”(《宋元學案》卷五十二)
一般認為,黃宗羲是“浙東史學”的開山之祖,在“浙學”歷史上起到了承前啟后的作用。他繼承和發揚了宋明以來的“浙學”傳統,更是通過“書院講學”的手段,培養了一大批著聞之士,形成了獨樹一幟的“浙東史學”流派。就黃宗羲的史學意識來說,它不可能是憑空產生的。那么,他的史學意識是什么時候開始覺醒的?培養他史學意識的土壤又是什么呢?
黃宗羲私淑弟子全祖望曾總結黃宗羲一生學養之構成:“公以濂洛之統,綜合諸家,橫渠之禮教,康節之數學,東萊之文獻,艮齋、止齋之經制,水心之文章,莫不旁推交通,連珠合璧,自來儒林所未有也。”(《梨洲先生神道碑》)后生如章學誠,以為黃宗羲開創清代“浙東史學”是“歷有淵源”的,承接了南宋以來浙東學派的傳統。近人倉修良《黃宗羲和清代浙東史學》更是認為:“黃宗羲的學術思想,與宋代以來的浙東學派是分不開的。”但是,諸多觀點都沒有說明黃宗羲史學意識的產生原因,究竟來自浙東學派的治學傳統,還是源自他自身的覺悟。
二
對于“浙東史學”之淵源,我們不能單純從“史學”角度進行求索。無論南宋之“浙學”發端,還是清代之集大成,我們都應該根據它自身的學術沉積,去分析遺傳而得的學術基因。從“浙學”諸多史家的治學經歷來看,他們對于史學的轉向,似乎是來自對儒學(或經學,或理學,或心學)的更深刻理解,從而激發了他們的史學意識。章學誠云:“浙東之學,言性命者,必究于史。”(章學誠《文史通義》內篇)這就說明,這些人“史學意識”的產生,開始時并無主觀意識或愿望,它更像是實踐儒學的一個必備工具。
我極為認同吳光先生把“浙東學派”命名為“浙東經史學派”的做法。他在《黃宗羲與清代學術》一書中論及:“關于清代浙東學派,前人往往作狹義的理解,稱之浙東史學派,并以章學誠為其殿軍,恐怕有失偏頗。愚意以為,浙東學派是一個包括經學、史學、文學、自然科學在內的學術流派,雖以史學成績顯著,但不應僅僅視作一個史學流派。”章學誠有著名的“六經皆史”的觀點,細究之下,可以發現這一觀點的基礎,在“六經”而非“史”。
浙東一隅,明代學術以“姚江學派”為中堅,承接宋元以來的理學傳統,走出了一條獨特的心學之路,在姚江兩岸開枝散葉。姚江學派的中流砥柱是王守仁(陽明),其“陽明心學”不僅遍及兩浙,而且影響后代數百年,確立了以“良知”為本體、“致良知”為方法論、“知行合一”為實踐手段的理論體系。姚江學派之后,有劉宗周之紹興蕺山學派。劉蕺山雖然修正了陽明四句教,確立誠意、慎獨主旨,但時人仍視蕺山學派為姚江學派的后世分支。
黃宗羲為紹興劉蕺山(宗周)弟子,《清史稿·黃宗羲傳》載:“山陰劉宗周倡道蕺山,(宗羲)以忠端遺命從游。”其父黃尊素(忠端公)遺命如何,今日難以得見,卻可推定黃尊素要求宗羲投身蕺山門下的主要原因,是劉蕺山為陽明的再傳弟子,是當世保持正統姚江學脈的唯一大儒。宗羲一族,世居余姚,其父、祖及先祖多以儒學或文學聞名,未見有治史者。他父親生前的愿望,并不是想讓他成為一個史家,而是讓他繼承并延續明代中期以來風靡全國的姚江心學思想。他父親與很多地方名士一樣,有著十分強烈的學術傳承意識。
黃宗羲成為蕺山弟子之后,確實沒有辜負父親所愿,極力維護著姚江學派的正統。《黃宗羲傳》記載:“越中承海門周氏之緒,授儒入釋,姚江之緒幾壞。宗羲獨約同學六十余人力排其說。故蕺山弟子如祁、章諸子皆以名德重,而御侮之功莫如宗羲。”但黃宗羲并不拘囿于陽明心學的舊有理論,進一步提出“經世應務”,強調“學以致用”的實用原則。黃宗羲的“經世應務”,遙遙呼應著南宋時期婺州學派和永嘉學派的“事功”,這恰恰也是朱熹批判“浙學”的主要原因。
三
黃宗羲對于“經世應務”的實踐,最終成為了他治史的根本目的和為學宗旨。他在《補歷代史表序》一文中強調:“學必原本于經術而后不為蹈虛,必證明于史籍而后足以應務。”又說:“夫二十一史所載,凡經世之業無不備矣。”這個“經世”和“應務”,強調了浙東史學的學術基礎,是經史之學而非其他,即必須熟讀前儒經典和歷朝史料才能“治國平天下”。
“經世應務”的實用性原則,也體現在他的《今水經序》的開頭部分:“古者儒、墨諸家,其所著書,大者以治天下,小者以為民用,蓋未有空言無事實者也。”繼而批判道:“后世流為詞章之學,始修飾字句,流連光景,高文巨冊,徒充污惑之聲而已。”
黃宗羲一生堅持“經世應務”,與他痛恨科場制舉的不良習氣有關。其《補歷代史表序》云:“自科舉之學盛,而史學遂廢……自科舉之學盛,世不復知有書矣。六經、子、史,亦以為冬華之桃李,不適于用……而先王之大經大法,兵農禮樂,下至九流六藝,切于民生日用者,蕩為荒煙野草,由大人之不說‘學以致之也。”黃宗羲以為,只有把前朝歷史作為現實的借鑒,熟讀史書,總結經驗,才有可能“足以應務”,切合于民生日用。
黃宗羲在《明儒學案序》一文中,強調了自己對陽明心學的繼承(強調學術正統),也從側面印證了“浙東史學”之所本在于儒學。而史學研究,不過是一種手段罷了。其云:“盈天地皆心也,變化不測,不能不萬殊。心本無體,功力所至,即其本體。故窮理者,窮此心之萬殊,非窮萬物之萬殊也。……某為《明儒學案》,上下諸先生,淺深各得,醇疵互見,要皆功力所至,竭其心之萬殊者而后成家,未嘗以蒙瞳精神,冒人糟粕,于是為之分源別派,使其宗旨歷然。”
黃宗羲的“經世應務”,體現在他的治史特點上。他把史學研究的重點放在了“近現代史”上。這里講的“近現代史”,是宋、元、明史,尤其是明史。無論是實錄型的《明史案》《行朝錄》《弘光實錄鈔》,還是學案類的《明儒學案》《明文案》《宋元文案》及未完稿的《宋元學案》,還是合集類的《明文海》《姚江逸詩》《浙東文統》,還是別史類的《四明山志》《黃氏家錄》《思舊錄》,這些著作都體現了“近現代史”的特點。
余姚舊有“文獻名邦”之稱,歷史上的著聞學者多“經史兼修”,如三國虞翻注《周易》《國語》;晉代虞預編撰《晉書》和《會稽典錄》;隋唐之際,虞世南撰《北堂書鈔》與《帝王略論》;明初宋玄僖參與官方《元史》編修。正因為有這樣悠遠深厚的經史土壤(或者說傳統),再看黃宗羲的“由經入史”,不過是水到渠成罷了。
“浙東學派”之史學意識的產生,既有其“經世應務”的內在覺醒,又有本地傳統的外在催化。還有一點,在清代初中期大興文字獄的專制統治下,黃宗羲及其晚輩史家,多以遺老自居,隱居講學,無疑是當時最妥當的全身方法。即投身純粹的史學研究,又保持自己的民族氣節。像黃宗羲那樣,從一開始的反清復明,到后來隱居城郊竹浦及龍虎草堂,治史以避禍,他的這一段人生軌跡,也可以看成是一個學者的求生選擇。
(本文圖片除署名外,來自視覺中國)
Scholars of Eastern Zhejiang School:Focus on History
By Shang Lue
Scholars of Zhejiang established themselves as a national phenomenon after the Southern Song (1127-1279) put its roots down in Hangzhou, present-day capital city of Zhejiang Province. In a sense, these scholars were not conventional ones. They advocated the pursuit of successful solutions to practical needs at national level as well as at grassroots level. Zhu Xi, a famed scholar of the Southern Song, contemptuously dismissed the scholars of Zhejiang for being bogged down in such ugly quest. In following centuries, eminent scholars continued to emerge in Zhejiang and they are known as regional schools such as Western Zhejiang School, Eastern Zhejiang School, Jinhua School, Yongjia School, etc.
Huang Zongxi (1610-1695) was the biggest scholar of the early Qing in Zhejiang. He and his followers blazed a new trail in history studies. These scholars are called historians of Eastern Zhejiang. Huang gave lectures at regional academies where younger scholars emerged. Unlike scholars in the previous dynasties and Huangs contemporaries who focused on Confucian classics, scholars of eastern Zhejiang concentrated on history, carrying on a tradition that started in the Song and flourished in the Ming in the hands of Wang Yangming. Huangs focus on history was just like his predecessors in Zhejiang: a quest of practical solutions to practical needs, of practical answers to practical questions in governance.
Huang and his fellow scholars of the early Qing scrutinized history for practical solutions and understanding of problems in everyday life. This was an approach made possible by their deeper understanding of Confucian classics. Their understanding of classics can be attributed to their studies of classics, history, literature, and science.
The focus on history reflects Huangs belief that knowledge must be practical and scholars must learn how to solve problems in national and regional governance. It is not difficult to understand why history played a key role in the study of these scholars. Unlike? which generated academic interests in the 1990s, Huangs? was regarded as a masterpiece in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is a systematic survey of all of the important schools of thought that arose in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The 62-volume encyclopedic book names 210 scholars and explores their interconnection and geographic distribution, and critically evaluates the life and teachings of the important scholars from each school. It is considered as the first great history of Chinese philosophy.
This work reflects Huangs approach to history study: he preferred dynasties close in time to him. He didnt look far back to dynasties such as the Tang (618-907) or the Han (206BC-220AD) that existed a long time ago. No wonder he first examined scholars of the Ming Dynasty. He himself was born and brought up in the Ming. He intended to write a similar review of the scholars of the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), but he passed away before being able to finish it.
Eastern Zhejiang produced generations of scholars. Huang Zongxi and other scholars in the early Qing years did not emerge by chance. Pursuit of education in eastern Zhejiang was a way of life and the tradition of historical studies had been around for a long time. Before the Ming, scholars of Yuyao had annotated classics and histories. It would be natural that Huang followed his predecessors footsteps. Another reason why these scholars turned their attention to history was that the literary inquisition of the Qing gagged scholars from speaking out. Huang Zongxi, a scholar who grew up in the Ming and fought the Qing in the early years of the dynasty, gave up the fight and retired to a life of scholarly pursuit to avoid persecution. It was the only reasonable choice available to him. His two younger brothers and a friend disliked his choice and broke relations with him.