邂逅相遇于迷途 问路径而得大道——古代早期问路故事的叙事模式和哲学意蕴

Losing Way to Destination But Geting Way to Philosophy —The Model and Details of the Story About Asking Way in the Ancient Times

中国古代早期问路故事主要有圣贤问路和君主问路两种类型,其基本特征是所问者为具体的路径,回答者却以大道相告,问和答有形而下和形而上之别。问路故事的主客双方通常是两类不同的社会角色,彼此之间存在较大的差异,由此构成作品内在的张力。大道是无法直接言说的,因此,指路传道者的语言多是象征性的。这类传说故事的主要角色通常是两位,有时是三位,根据具体的情节而设定。古代早期问路故事的出现与道的哲学抽象历程密切相关,体现了道在哲学抽象过程的多重指向和丰富意蕴。

In the ancient China there are two kinds of stories of asking way, one is asked by sages and men of virtue, the other is asked by sovereign. The basic feature of this kind of stories is that the aim of asking way is for the way to destination, but the answer is the way to philosophy. The difference between the ask and the answer is metaphysical or sub-metaphysical. There are two kinds of social roles, in the story of asking way, one is host and the other is guest. These two kinds of roles are quite different, and because of the difference the story becomes more interesting. The philosophy can not be said directly, because of this the language of the answer is always symbolic. Usually there are two main characters in this kind of story, sometimes three, it depends on the details. The emergence of this kind of story is related to the abstract of the conception of Dao,in which various implications of Dao are embodied.