传统纲常思想的演变存在一条线索,即德行与秩序之间的互为主次关系。“纲”为秩序,“常”为德行,对于两者之间的关系,早期儒家认同在德行基础上形成的差等秩序,注重用德行来约束人伦关系,君臣、父子、夫妇各有职分,其关系乃是双向的,而非片面的无条件服从。而后则是倾向以加强势力来统一思想,达成社会共识,稳定社会秩序,注重用人伦秩序的规范来成就德行。德行基础上的人伦关系在政治实践中会显得松散而脆弱,不足以实现稳定的社会秩序;而完全用“三纲”思想保障权威以达成统一秩序,又会压抑社会与人性。“纲常”思想需要将“三纲”和“五常”牵连在一起,互相制衡,使两者不至于各走极端。只有在此意义上,“三纲五常”思想才是具有历史进步和现代价值的,才能重建传统文化的核心价值体系。 There is a clue to the evolvement of the traditional monolithic thought, that is, the mutual relationship between morality and order. For the relationship between the two, the early Confucianists recognized the poor order formed on the basis of virtue and paid attention to restraining the relationship between men and women by morality. The monarch, son, father and son Each has its own part and its relationship is two-way, not one-sided and unconditional obedience. Then it tends to strengthen the forces to unify their thinking, reach a consensus on the society, stabilize the social order, and pay attention to using the norms of human relations to achieve virtue. The relations between men and women based on virtue can become loose and fragile in political practice, which is not enough to achieve a stable social order. To completely safeguard the authority by using the “three principles” in order to achieve a unified order will depress social and human nature. “Gang often ” thought needs “three classes of ” and “five permanent ” implicated, checks and balance each other, so that the two do not go to the extreme. Only in this sense can the thought of “three basic principles and five permanent principles” be the core value system of reconstruction of traditional culture with historical progress and modern value.