本文首先指出，關聖作為一強烈的文化符號，較文聖孔子猶不遑多讓。之所以如此，與華人文化「存有的連續觀」之思維下，強調「天人不二」、「天人合德」之「氣的感通」格局有重要關聯。透過此種格局的理解，關羽「忠義」之形象，不僅有歷史文化的脈絡為依據，也有超越的價值意義為依歸。其次探討通俗小說的流行，固然造就了「天下無不知有關忠義」的風潮，卻也突顯在常民社會中，關聖以「情義」為首出的形象。由此「情義」可上通於「道義」，亦有滑轉於「意氣」之可能。第三節探討從官方意識形態理解的關聖，雖然一方面強調其「忠義」的教化功能，實質上卻是一種結合了咒術思考、道德理想、社會規範的奇特綜合體。最後反省了現代社會中，既有的政治形態以及人文之禮崩解，主體自覺缺乏了客觀制度結構的憑依，亦導致面對生活世界的疏離。蓬勃發展的民間宗教，反而承擔了更多心靈安頓以及社會教化的功能。本文強調，面對既有「綱常」、「名教」、「人倫」等結構的重新調整，「忠義」的意義如何轉化為「社會正義」的概念，在現代公民社會中，當有另一番重新審視的可能。

The beginning of this article puts forward ＂Guan-Saint＂ is a kind of important ＂cultural sign＂, Compare with ＂Confucius＂ to is not inferior to at all. This is because of the Chinese culture to value ＂the inner communication of Chi＂. Under this comprehension, the image of ＂Chung Yi＂ that the Kuan Yu have, not only has the basis of the history, but also has the value ideal to be the foundation. This article secondly will inquire into: The fad of ＂popular novel＂, surely educated the fad of ＂the world all knows the Guan-chung yi＂, but also express in the ordinary people's heart the impression of the special value ＂ch'ing yi＂ of＂ the Guan-Saint＂. The section 3 study of the thesis: From ＂Guan-Saint＂ that the consciousness appearance of the authorities comprehends, although on the other hand emphasize the culture function of its ＂the chung yi＂, actually but was a kind of to synthesize: The unusual appearance of ＂Zhou-shu thinking＂, ＂the morals ideal＂ and ＂social standard＂. This article finally speaks of, the civil religion had in modem society very important stability function.