自孔子以降，對於人文的關注與思維即是儒家哲學之一大特色，而儒家亦重視「禮」，孔子即有「克己復禮為仁」的主張；《禮記》一書為儒家論「禮」的重要典籍，除了對於「禮」的考證外，更理論性地論述及推崇「禮」所蘊涵的意義，對於「禮」之「義」的闡釋發揮最具價值。本文即欲透過對《禮記》「天」觀念之內涵的分析而探討儒家哲學在生命意義、存在價值、人生境界等主題的人文關懷，文中分就「天」觀念之「宗教意涵」、「天道意義」、「性命根源」等三個層面考察其中所蘊涵的人文精神。

Ever since the time of Confucius, the Confucian philosophy has always been characterized by its humanistic concerns and thoughts. But “Li” (rites/propriety) is also very important to the Confucianism, with Confucius saying, “To subdue one's self and return to propriety is perfect virtue.” Lichi (Book of Rites) is an important Confucian text on “Li,” as it not only studies the concept of “Li” but also states rationally and commends its meanings, making the best contribution to the explication of “Li” and “Yi” (rectitude). This paper is to explore the three topics of Confucian philosophy-the meaning of life, the value of being, and the state of life-through analyzing the idea of the “heaven” in Lichi. This paper is meant to study the humanistic spirit contained the three dimensions of the idea of the “heaven”: the meaning of religion, the meaning of the heavenly way and the origin of life.