Phaol Nguyn Cng Thnh

Lp Trit 2. Kha IX.

IM

Bi lm cui k I
Cha gio hng dn: Gioan Vn Ngn
NHN XT CA CHA GIO

NN GI NHO GIO HAY KHNG GIO?

Nho gio nn hc thuyt c Khng T truyn b cn c bit n bng mt
tn gi khc l Khng gio. Hu ht mi ngi u cho rng hai t ny c ngha tng ng
v c th c dng thay th cho nhau. Nguyn Nh trong i t in ting Vit nh
ngha: Nho gio: hc thuyt do Khng T sng lp nhm duy tr trt t x hi phong kin: t
tng Nho gio du nhp vo Vit Nam t th k I trc Cng nguyn, cn gi l Khng gio,
o Khng.1 Nguyn Ln trong T in T v Ng Vit Nam cng c cng mt quan im.
ng nh ngha Nho gio: hc thuyt ca Khng T v Mnh T. 2 Mt s t cc hc gi
khc nh Hong Long v Quang Hng li c s phn bit gia hai t Nho gio v Khng
gio, d rng cha thc s r rng: Nho: phi hc ly o ca Khng l nn tng sa tr
i mnh.3 Nhn chung, a s mi ngi t tng lp bnh dn cho n tr thc u coi Nho
gio v Khng gio l hai t c cng ngha v c th c dng thay th ln nhau. iu ny
c thc s ng khng?
lm r s khc bit gia hai thut ng trn, chng ta khng ch dng li phng
din phn tch t ng, nhng i xa hn v lch s pht trin v hnh thnh ca nn hc thuyt
ny lm r nhng ngha khc nhau m chng c th din t. Rt tic l ti Vit Nam, con
cha thy c tc gi no bn lun v vn ny, do ngun ti liu tham kho l rt hn
ch. Tuy nhin, ti phng Ty, mt ti tng t c cc hc gi tranh lun si ni

1 Nguyn Nh et al., i T in Ting Vit, TP.HCM: Nh xut bn i hc Quc gia

TP.HCM, 2013, tr. 1175.
2 Nguyn Ln, T in T v Ng Vit Nam, TP.HCM: Nh xut bn TP.HCM, 1998, tr.
1335.
3 Hong Long v Quang Hng, T in Vit Nam, TP.HCM, Nh xut bn Hng c, 2012,
tr. 664.
1

trong thi gian gn y.4 Thit ngh gia hai ti, tuy c khc nhau v ngn ng nhng ni
dung tng t nhau, do c th p dng phng php loi suy i chiu sang ting Vit.5
tm hiu v s khc nhau gia hai t Khng gio v Nho gio, trc ht ta cn tm
hiu s khc nhau gia hai ch khng v nho. C hai u c ngun gc t ting Hn. Khng
l t Hn-Vit, bt ngun t ch (kong6) tn ca Khng T7, cn nho l t Hn-Vit, bt
ngun t ch (ru). Khi ni Khng gio, ta m ch n mt h t tng, li dy ca Khng
T, gn ging nh khi ta ni Ki-t gio hay Pht gio. 8 Nhng vn khng n gin nh
vy khi gii ngha ch nho gio.
u tin, phi lm r xem nho c ngha l g? Lu Hm ( -Liu Xin), mt trong
cc i hc gi i Hn (260 220 TCN) xc nh rng: Bn nho gia thch hc lc kinh
v ch nhn ngha. H xem Nghiu, Thun (hai thnh vng c gi nh sng th k
24 v 23 TCN) l t tin ca hc phi mnh, xem vua Vn (1120? 1108? i Chu) v vua
V (con vua Vn) l mu mc sng ngi, tn Trng Ni lm thy li ni ca h c trng
v o ca h thnh chn l ti cao. 9 Tuy nhin, theo Xinzhong Yao, vic dng nho gi
4 Vic dng ch Confucianism dch ch Nho gia, Nho gio, hoc Nho hc
c kh nhiu hc gi c ng ln Ty tranh lun trong thi gian gn y. a s u cho
rng cch dch ny khng chun, trong s c Phng Hu Lan, Xinzhong Yao. Ring vi
Liu Wu-Chi, ng xem cch dch ny c th chp nhn c nhng ch theo ngha Khng T
(Confucius) l nhn vt chnh (protagonist) ca phong tro ny thi. Tham kho chi tit thm
ti Phng Hu Lan, Lch s Trit hc Trung Quc, L Anh Minh, dg., H Ni: Nh xut bn
Khoa hc X hi, 2013, tr. 46; Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2000, tr. 17; Liu Wu-Chi, A Short History of Confucian
Philosophy, London: The Whitefriars Press, 1995, tr. 14.
5 Nh vo mn i chiu ngn ng (Contrastive Analysis), chng ta c th p dng phng
php loi suy t ting Anh cho ting Vit v: Confucianism c cu to bi ch Confucius
tn Latinh ha ca Khng T - v tip v ng (suffix) ism ngha l hc thuyt, ch ngha.
Khng gio trong ting Vit cng c cu to bi ch Khng tn ting Vit ca ca Khng
T, ng hn l t Hn Vit bt ngun t ch (kong) v tip v ng gio ( - jiao)
ngha l li dy bo, mnh lnh (chi tit thm v ngha ca ch gio, xem thm ti ch
thch s 33)
6 kong l li vit Latin ho theo kiu Pinyin (Pinyin Spelling) ca ting Hn, mt h thng
hin rt ph bin Trung Quc, Singapore v Malaysia. Cch vit ny thng xut hin
trong cc t in ting Hn hin nay nhm gip cho nhng ngi hc cc nc dng h
thng ch ci Latin d nh mt ch v d pht m. Tham kho thm v Pinyin Spelling v
Wade-Giles ti Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2000, tr. 15.
7 Khng T (-kongzi), tn l (-Kong Qiu), t l Trng Ni (-Zhongni). t
lng knh trng, cc gi ng l Khng Phu T (-kongfuzi), thy Khng (kongshi)
8 Ni l gn ging nhau v vn c s khc nhau gia cc thut ng ny. S khc nhau ni n
y l do ch gio, v tt nhin khng nh hng n s so snh ang xt.
9 x. Phng Hu Lan, Lch s Trit hc Trung Quc, L Anh Minh, dg., H Ni: Nh xut bn
Khoa hc X hi, 2013, tr. 46.
2

tn cc hc gi phi Khng T ch xy ra mi sau ny, tc l khi hc thuyt ca ng ni

danh v c ng o mi ngi chp nhn.10 Th nho thc s c t khi no?
C mt cuc tranh lun gia cc hc gi trn th gii v thi gian nho bt u xut
hin. Mt s cho rng nho c trc thi Khng T, s khc li khng nh rng nho c
sau, hay ng hn, nho c to nn gi nhng ca Khng T.11 a phn cho rng
quan im th nht c l hn, v l chng h a ra thuyt phc hn. Trong s cc vn bn
c i, ch nho xun hin u tin trong Lun ng khi Khng T dy cc ca mnh
rng: Ngi nn lm nh nho qun t, ch lm nh nho tiu nhn. 12 Nh th, nho t phi c
t nht l t thi Khng T tr v trc, khng th no c sau c. a s cc cuc nghin
cu gn y u loi b kh nng chnh Khng T to ra t nho gi cc mnh v kt
lun rng nho tn ti t trc thi Khng T. 13 Nu gi thit ny ng th nho trc
c dng lm g, gi ai?
Tr li vi Ngh Vn Ch ca Lu Hm, ng khng nh rng nho bt ngun t quan
t , tc b gio dc14 (-situ zhi guan). Bn phn ca v quan ny l ph gip vua
cha i theo o ca m dng v khai sng dn chng bng gio dc (
zhu renjun, shun yinyang, ming jiaohua)15. a s cc hc gi ngy nay u ng tnh
vi quan im ca Lu Hm. Trng Bnh Ln (-Zhang Binglin, 1869 1936) cn i
xa hn khi khng nh rng tt c cc trng phi trit hc trong thi Xun Thu (771 476
TCN) v Chin Quc (475 221 TCN) u xut thn t cc bc quan li ( -wang guan)
trong triu nh nh Chu (-Chou). Trong tc phm Yuan Ru (- On the Origin of Ru),
ng ch ra rng trong thi c i, nho c dng vi mt ngha rt rng. Thi nh Chu, c
ti ba loi nho. Trc ht, nho c dng nh mt danh hiu ch nhng ngi tr thc, v
vng. H l nhng ngi c trang b vi nhng kin thc chuyn mn v mt hay nhiu
lnh vc ca i sng x hi. Nho cng c dng ch tng lp nhng ngi chuyn
10 x. Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2000, tr. 17-18.
11 x. Eno Robert, The Confucian Creation of Heaven: Philosophy and the Defense of Ritual
Mastery, Albany: State University of New York Press, trch dn bi Xinzhong Yao, An
Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, tr. 8.
12 Lun ng, Ung D, 11, on Trung Cn, dg., TP.Hu: Nh xut bn Thun Ho, 2013, tr.
88-89.
13 x. Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2000, tr. 18.
14 x. Phng Hu Lan, Lch s Trit hc Trung Quc, L Anh Minh, dg., H Ni: Nh xut
bn Khoa hc X hi, 2013, tr. 46.
15 Hanshu, trong , tp 4, Bc Kinh, Zhonghua Shuju , trch dn bi
Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
2000, tr. 17.
3

nghin cu lc ngh (nghi thc, nhc, bn cung, ci nga, nh xe, lch s v ton hc). Sau
cng, nho l mt tc v trong triu nh ch nhng ngi tr gip vua cha i theo o ca
m dng v khai sng dn chng bng gio dc. V sau ny, nho khng cn c dng
ch ba hng ngi trn na nhng c dnh ring gi nhng ai dy v truyn b hc
thuyt ca Khng T16.
Mt s cc hc gi khc nh Khang Hu Vi (-Kang Youwei, 1858 1927) v
H Thch (-Hu Shi, 1891 1962) khng ng tnh vi Lu Hm v Trng Bnh Ln v
cch gii thch ngun gc ca nho. Theo quan im ca nhm ny, nho khng h xut thn t
quan li nh Chu. Da vo mt s ti liu ni rng Khng T thng hay i mt loi m c
bit (-zhangfu zhi guan), H Thch kt lun rng nho c dng gi con chu
nh Thng (-Shang, khong 1600 1100 TCN), triu i b nh Chu lt th k 12
trc Cng nguyn. Tuy b h b v mt ht ca ci, nhng ngi ny vn cn gi c vn
kin thc su rng v nghi l. V th, h c cc lnh cha nh Chu tuyn m lm t t
trong cc dp l lc.17 n trc thi Khng T t lu, nh Chu suy tn, nhng t t ny mt
i quyn li cng nh a v x hi ca mnh. Dn d, h tr thnh mt nhm ngi kim
sng da vo kin thc v nghi l v phong tc h c.18
Trong tc phm Yuan Ru Mo (-On the Origins of the Ru and Moists), Phng
Hu Lan (, 1895 1900) khng ng vi quan im ny. Theo ng, ch da vo
vic i m ca nh Thng th khng kt lun rng h l con chu nh Thng. ng
cn i xa hn na khi phn bit rch ri nho v nho gia (-rujia). Theo ng, nho ch mt
nhm nhng chuyn gia sng bng ngh dy hc v c hnh cc nghi thc, cn nho gia l
mt hc phi c hnh thnh trong thi Xun Thu.19
Liu Wu-Chi cng bc b quan im ca Hu Shi. Theo ng, nho khng phi l con
chu nh Thng nhng l nhng thnh phn mt phn tha k (disinherited members) ca
16 x. Zhang Binglin , Yuan Ru (On the Origin of Ru), Guocui Xuebao,
1909, s 56, trong The Whole Collection of Guocui Xuebao, Taipei, 1970, tp 10, tr. 26048, trch dn bi Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2000, tr. 19.
17 x. Liu Wu-Chi, A Short History of Confucian Philosophy, London: The Whitefriars Press,
1995, tr. 15.
18 x. Hu Shi, Shuo Ru (-Discusion on Ru), trong Hushi Wencun , Taipei:
Yuandong Tushu Gongsi, tp 4, trch dn bi Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to
Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, tr. 19.
19 x. Chen Lai, Gudai Zongjiao yu Lunli Rujia Sixiang de Genyuan (Ancient Religion and
Ethics The Origin of the Confucian Thought), Beijing: Sanlian Shudian, trch dn bi
Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
2000, tr. 19.
4

gii qu tc nh Chu. Tuy vn cn mang trong mnh dng mu qu tc, nhng ngi ny
b lng qun v dn tr thnh th dn. Tuy khng n ni phi cng cc nh nhng ngi
dn en sut ngy quanh qun lm lem bn rung ng, h cng ri vo th qun bch n
phi tn dng ht c nhng ti nng mnh c kim sng.20
n y, ta tm thi gc qua mt bn cuc tranh lun v vic nho c thc s bt
ngun t cc bc quan li trong triu nh hay khng. Tuy nhin, qua nhng phn tch trn,
ta chc chn rng nho phi c mi lin quan no n vic hc tp v gio dc. Cu hi t
ra l liu y c phi l ngh nghip nguyn thu (original profession) ca h?
Gn y, mt nhm cc hc gi Trung Quc bt tay tm hiu v vn ny v kt
lun rng t thu ban u, nho c dng gi cc v cng v cc nhc s trong cc l hi
tn gio thi nh Thng. y l thi k i sng dn chng cn b chi phi nhiu bi vic
th cng cc thn linh. Nhim v ca nho l trnh din cc iu ma khc nhau v chi nhc
cu xin cho c ma mng ti tt, ng thi dng cng l vt ln thn linh v t
tin.21 hon thnh nhim v ny, nho phi hc khng nhng v l nghi nhng cn v cc
mn khc c lin quan nh chim tinh hc, thin vn hc (astronomy, astroplogy) d on
ma hay hn. Ch nho gm ch nhu (-xu), ch nhu gm ch my (-yu) trn tri (er).22 iu ny chng t rng gia nho v vic nhy ma cu ma c mt mi lin h no .
Mt l chng khc v mt T nguyn hc (Epistemology) cng cho thy rng nho c
lin quan n vic nhy ma, m nhc v cc nghi l tn gio. Ch nho c cng ng cn
(root) vi ch k nhu nhc, yu t (coward, weakling)23. Hn na, trong t in ting Hn
hin nay, ch nho cng c ngha l mm mng ri. Nh vy, ta c th suy on rng mt
trong nhng c trng ca nho l mm mng, nh nhng. S d h mang bit hiu ny l v
khi c hnh cc nghi thc, h thng mc o chong c tay rng thng thnh, tht lng bng
khn la, eo cc th bi mu ngc bch, i m trn bng lng v di, mang giy vung. 24
Chnh v th, h khng i li t nhin c; c ch, iu b th chm chp, nh nhng. Cng
20 x. Liu Wu Chi, A Short History of Confucian Philosophy, London: The Whitefriars Press,
1995, tr. 15.
21 x. Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2000, tr. 19.
22 Yan Buke, Yueshi yu Ru shi Wenhua Qiwuan (Music Masters and the Cultural Origin of
the Ru), Beijing University Academic Journal, 1995, tp 5, tr. 46-54, trch dn bi Xinzhong
Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, tr. 19.
23 c cng ng cn vi ch (nuo-NO), ngha l nht nht, yu ui, khng c nng
lc: (nuofu-NA PHU): k hn nht.
24 x. Liu Wu Chi, A Short History of Confucian Philosophy, London: The Whitefriars Press, 1995, tr.
17: [They wore] broad-sleeved robes girdled with silk sashes and trimmed with jade tablets, high
round feather hats and square shoes

c gi thit cho rng v nho l nhng ngi chuyn v m nhc v ca ma, cung cch v iu
b ca h thng du dng, yu iu thc n. iu ny khng phi khng c l. Chng ta vn
c th thy nhng trng hp tng t trong x hi hin i.25
c c mt ci nhn tng th v ngun gc ca nho trc thi Khng T, ta c
th chp nhn gi thit c Zinzhong Yao a ra. ng tin rng nho tri qua nhiu giai
on pht trin trc khi n tr thnh mt phong tro trit hc di s lnh o ca Khng
T. u tin, nho c dng ch cc v cng v cc nhc s trong cc nghi thc tn gio.
H c dn chng bit n vi c trng l s mm mng, du dng (flexibility, softness).
Trong giai on ny, nho l mt nhm ngi c bit trong x hi m ngy nay chng ta c
th gi l ngi ln ng (shamans), nh ma thut (magicians) hay thy ph thy (sorcerers).
Sau mt thi gian, nho ch nhng chuyn gia trong cc nghi thc v l hi. H c th l
nhng t t hay tr t trong cc bui c hnh tn gio. Sau na, nhng chuyn gia ny tr
thnh nhng nh gio dc trong h thng gio dc chnh quy. c kh nng trng coi vic
c hnh cc nghi l, nho phi nm vng cc kin thc v s, thi, nhc, thin vn, bn cung v
ton hc v y l nhng lnh vc c lin quan cht ch n cc nghi l thi xa. Thm vo
, h cng c bn phn hun luyn cc v cng, nhc s tr cng nh dy v nghi l v cc
mn hc c lin quan. y l l do h c dn chng gi l thy (-shi).26
n thi Xun Thu, ln sng duy l (rationalism) tri dy khin cho vic thc hnh
tn gio sa st. V th, mt s ln nho ri b chc v trong triu nh v vn. Tuy nhin, nh
vo vn kin thc v nghi l v gio dc, h c ting tm v uy tn hn so vi nhng ngi
dn bnh thng. Nhng dn d theo dng thi gian, chng ai cn nh rng nho c mt
ngun gc xut pht nh th. Thay vo , nho c ni rng ra thnh mt t chung gi
nhng ai c kin thc v lc ngh, nhng ai kim sng bng vn kin thc ny cng nh kin
thc v cc lnh vc khc.27 Trong s nhng ngi ny, Khng T l mt nhn vt kit xut,
tri vt hn hn. Chnh ng m ra mt thi i mi bng vic bin i v pht trin
truyn thng ca nho. Trc thi Chin Quc, Khng T c ng o mi ngi cng
nhn l nhn vt cao cp nht trong truyn thng nho, nh c Hn Phi T (-Han
Fei Zi, 280 233 TCN), mt trong nhng php gia v nh ph bnh nho gia danh ting nhn
xt: Trong thi i ny, nhng ngi ni ting theo hc l cc Nho v cc Mc gia. Nhn
25 x. Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2000, tr. 20.
26 Sd.
27 x. Chen Lai, Gudai Zongjiao yu Lunli Rujia Sixiang de Genyuan (Ancient Religion and
Ethics The Origin of the Confucian Thought), Beijing: Sanlian Shudian, trch dn bi
Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
2000, tr. 21.
6

vt cao cp nht trong gii nho l Khng T, nhn vt cao cp nht trong Mc gia l Mc
t.28
Nh vy, Nho gio v Khng gio l hai t c ni hm (connotation) khc nhau rt
nhiu. Chng ta c th tm gn nhng d bit ca hai t ny vo nm im chnh nh sau:
Th nht, khi dng t Khng gio, ta d b lm tng rng y l mt h t tng
c sng lp bi c Khng T, ging nh khi ta gi Ki-t gio, Pht gio. Tuy nhin, nh
phn tch trn, nho gio l mt truyn thng c trc Khng T rt lu; do , ng
ch l ngi tng hp li truyn thng c trc v truyn b chng cho cc th h sau.
Thm vo , ngay c vic Khng T c phi l ngi san nh li b kinh in ca Nho gio
hay khng cng ang c t vn trong gian gn y.29
Th hai, khi dng t Khng gio, ta d b lm tng rng Khng T l v sng lp
mt tn gio mi, v s tn vong ca tn gio ny c xy dng trn nn tng c tin vo
c Khng T. Tuy nhin, thc s Khng T ch c xem l mt v thy (sage-teacher), l
i thnh ch thnh tin s hoc vn th s biu 30. ng t khi c xem nh l mt ng
Cu Tinh (Savior), v cng khng bao gi c xem l Thin Cha. 31 V im ny, tip v
ng gio trong ting Vit cng d lm lm cho chng ta ngh rng y l mt tn gio. Thc
ra, gio y ch c ngha l li dy bo thi. 32 Hu ht cc hc gi thi ny u cho rng nho
gio khng phi l mt tn gio m ch l mt h thng trit l.
Th ba, nguyn ch nho c ngha l vn s, hc gi, ngi tr thc ri. Do , nu
gi l Khng gio, ta b mt ngha rng ngi theo hc phi ny cn l cc hc gi cng
nh cc nh t tng.33

28 Liao, W.K., The Complete Works of Han Fei Tzu A classic of Chinese Political Science,
tr. from the Chinese with introduction and notes, vols. 1-2, London: Authur Probsthain, 1939,
1960, trch dn bi Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2000, tr. 21.
29 Tham kho thm v vn ny ti Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, tr. 52.
30 x. Nguyn Mnh Cng v Nguyn Th Hng H, Nho gio o hc trn t kinh k:
Thng long ng H Ni, Nh xut bn Vn ho Thng tin v Vin vn ho, 2007,
tr. 19.
31 x. Xinzhong Yao, An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2000, tr. 17.
32 x. o Duy Anh, Hn Vit T in, H Ni: Nh xut bn Vn Ha-Thng Tin, 2013, tr.227: ch
gio l t Hn-Vit, bt ngun ca ch (jiao), din t ba ngha: (1) li dy bo: gio n, gio dc;
(2) mnh lnh; (3) tn gio.

33 Sd., tr. 448; Phng Hu Lan, Lch s Trit hc Trung Quc, L Anh Minh, dg., H Ni:
Nh xut bn Khoa hc X hi, 2013, tr. 46.
7

Th bn, xt v mt T nguyn hc, t bn thn ch nho gi ln ngha v ngun

gc v s pht trin ca nho gio, nh c phn tch trn. Tt nhin, khng phi ai
cng c th hiu c nhng ngha su xa ny, d l ngi ni ting Hn. Tuy nhin, ta
khng th ph nhn gi tr ca ch nho xt v phng din hc thut.
Th nm, cng v mt T nguyn hc, ch nho cn c th din t mt hm su xa
khc v mt x hi m ch khng khng din t c. Ch nho (-ru) c ghp thnh t
ch nhn (-ren), ngha l ngi, v ch nhu (-ru), ngha l cn. Nh vy, ch nho m ch
rng y l nhng ngi cn phi c trong x hi. Sch Php ngn c chp: Thng thin a
nhn, vit nho, ngha l nhng ngi c nng lc c v thin vn, a l, nhn s mi c
gi l nho34. Nh th, nho hn phi c vai tr mt rt quan trng trong x hi xa.
Bng tt c nhng phn tch trn y, ta nn dng t nho gio hn l khng gio.

34 x. o Duy Anh, Hn Vit T in, H Ni: Nh xut bn Vn Ha-Thng Tin, 2013, tr.
448.
8