Abstract:

The concept of “Hiding Rites into artifacts” is essential to Confucian ethics of science and technology, functioning as the basic principle of creation and manufacture of artifacts in ancient China. Under the influence of this concept, “artifacts” become the indicator and reinforcer of “rites”. Indeed, the relationship between “rites” and “artifacts” is bidirectionally constructed. On the one hand, artifacts are materialized rites, so the design and use of artifacts should follow the provisions of rites, and rites are manifested in the artifacts in the materialized form; on the other hand, artifacts react on rites and strengthen them, playing an important role of “non-verbal” moral education. As a resource of ethics of science and technology with unique cultural characteristics of China, the concept of “hiding rites in artifacts” is of great reference value to the construction of Chinese discourse system of ethical governance of science and technology. After creative transformation and innovative development, it will still be instructive for the ethical governance of science and technology today.

Key words: hiding rites in artifacts, ethics of science and technology, traditional architecture