《大学》是宋明理学家们用力最深的文本之一。专以"明明德亲(新)民"关系的诠释而言,朱子遵从二程《大学》改本,主张"新民"说,并以"本末"论来阐述"明新"关系;王阳明主张恢复古本《大学》,力主"亲民"说,并提出"明亲合一"的理论;作为宋明理学的批判总结者,王船山力反阳明之论,维护程朱《大学》改本和"新民"说,同时运用"理一分殊"论,一方面否定阳明"明亲合一"论,另一方面又批评和深化朱子"明新本末"论。由此可见,同一文本因学者自身的时代问题意识及其学术关切的差异,呈现出异彩纷呈的不同解读,借此也说明经典文本本身丰富的、开放的义理诠释空间,以及儒家学说所具有的"学随世变"的生命力和创发力。
The Great Learning is the most studied text for neo- Confucians in the Song and Ming Dynasties. In interpreting the relations between Ming- ming- de(明明德) and Qin( Xin)- min(亲(新) 民),Zhuzi followed the revised version and Xinmin(新民) and put forward the theory of non- essentials and fundamentals. Yangming opposed Zhuzi's statements,argued for the restoration of the classical version of The Great Learning and Qinmin(亲民),and put forth the unity theory. Chuanshan vehemently opposed Yangming's viewpoints,defended Zhuzi's proposition,and put forward the theory of Li- Yi- Fen- Shu(理一分殊). Thus it can be seen that the classical texts possess a rich and open scope of interpretations,and that the Confucianism changed with the change of ages.