Abstract: With understanding morality played an important role in keeping their ruling, some emperors in ancient china could follow and perform some moral norms,especially humaneness and righteousness, wisdom, and diligentness and frugality, for example. However, because their hearts were dominated by royal prerogative,in practice they were often averse to such morality though giving some attention to it, would rather disobey than perform it,and hoped others to perform it while they themselves evaded doing them. In conclusion, they held a view of moral instrumentalism.

Key words: morals of emperors', humaneness and righteousness, wisdom, diligentness and frugality, instrumentalism

摘要： 中国古代帝王们意识到道德对于他们的重要性,以仁义、明智、勤俭为其主要的道德准则和规范,但是,在“权位”的阴影下,他们对于道德往往敬重却又厌恶,履行又想拒绝,希望他人尊奉,自己却要逃避质;持工具主义态度。

关键词: 帝王道德, 仁义, 明智, 勤俭, 工具主义