历史时期的“黄河清”现象初探

A Preliminary Approach to the Clarity of the Yellow River in history

古人对黄河清有“祥瑞之兆”和“不祥之征”两种观点。黄河澄清是一种自然现象 ,却又不可能出现在正常条件下 ,它有其内在的规律。只有当流域内大范围出现异常情况 ,如持续干旱少雨、冬季过于寒冷、地震等时 ,才会导致黄河河水变异 ,出现黄河澄清的现象。黄河清是干旱和黄河断流的前兆。同时 ,黄河清还与社会政治、文化和生活交织在一起 ,成为奇异的文化与社会现象。

Ancient people had two opposite views on the clarity of the Yellow River: symbolism of auspice or malignancy. As a kind of natural phenomenon, the clarity of the Yellow River had its internal law, but it could not appear in normal conditions. The clarity only appeared in abominable circumstance, such as drought, cold climate or earthquake. In such condition, the rapid variation of water quality of the Yellow River led to deposition of soil in the river. The clarity of the Yellow River was the prognostication of its water-vanishing and drought. Meanwhile the clarity of the Yellow River is also connected with social, political, cultural lives and became a social culture problem.