“冠带”“夷狄”之间:司马迁的民族意识

Between“Guandai”(冠带)and“Yidi”(夷狄):Sima Qian’s National Consciousness

汉武帝时代,民族关系进入历史新阶段。成书于此时的《史记》,对于上古以来的民族史有大致符合历史真实的记述。《史记》是开始专门的民族史书写的第一部史学名著。司马迁在《史记》中表达的民族意识,与儒学严格界隔“华夷”的传统有别。《史记》关注中原农耕民族与边地游牧射猎民族在文化基因方面的共通性,承认多民族对华夏文明发生和发育的综合作用,尊重文化风习的“四夷各异”,肯定并赞扬“胡服之功”,这些都体现了开明的理念。考察中华民族文化共同体的形成和发展,理解并说明这一历史进程,应当重视司马迁民族意识的积极意义。

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty,the relationship among ethnic groups in China entered a new historical stage.“Records of the Historian”,which is written during this period,gives an account of the history of ethnic groups since ancient times,which is roughly in line with historical facts.“Records of the Historian”is the first historical work that dedicates to the record of the history of ethnic groups.The consciousness of different ethnic groups that Sima Qian presents in his work is distinctively different from the tradition of Confucianism,which draws a strict line between Hua(华,China)and Yi(夷,barbarian).His attention on the commonality in cultural genes between agricultural Central-Plains ethnic groups and nomadic borderland ethnic groups,his recognition of a comprehensive effect that multiple ethnic groups have on the rise and development of Huaxia civilization,his respect on“differences between Four Barbarians”(四夷各异),and his approval on the“benefit of Hu dress”(胡服之功)are all embodiments of his open-minded ideology.To explore the making and development of the cultural community for the Chinese nation and to comprehend and account for this historical process,one should value the positive side of Sima Qian’s national consciousness.