文质彬彬·每日好词语｜乐和民声

　　乐和民声

　　用音乐调和民众的声音。儒家学说辩证对待“礼”与“乐”的关系，“礼”用于约束和分别，“乐”用于和谐与融通。“乐和民声”主要突出“乐”的功用。如果用音乐来加以调和，那么，生活在不同境况下的人受到同样的音乐熏陶，大家的情绪一定会趋于稳定，从而形成社会群体的和谐。

　　Music Harmonizes the Voices of the People

　　Confucianism sees a close relationship between rites and music, both of which are indispensable for maintaining a country's stability and social harmony. Rites are used to ensure restraint and differentiation, and music is used to ensure harmony and unity of mind. The belief that music harmonizes the voices of the people states the functions of music. As sounds arise from the minds of different people, huge differences in such voices reflect the richness of their mental activities. People in different situations who have different voices naturally differ in their emotions and feelings. When music is employed to harmonize voices, people in different situations will be influenced and moved by it, and this will lead to unity in public mood and eventual harmony in the entire society.

　　引例

　　礼节民心，乐和民声，政以行之，刑以防之。礼乐刑政，四达而不悖，则王道备矣。（《礼记·乐记》）（用礼仪规范民众的内心，用音乐调和民众的心声，用政令推行礼乐教化，用刑罚预防奸邪。礼仪、音乐、政令、刑罚，这四个方面都畅行无阻而不冲突，那么以仁义治理天下的王道就完备了。）

　　Rites restrain the minds of the people, while music harmonizes their voices. Decrees are issued to implement rites and spread music; penalties are meted out to prevent misconduct. When rites, music, decrees, and penalties go hand in hand without conflicting one another, the benevolent rule is ensured. (The Book of Rites)