试论中国史前玉器寓意性功能的演变

Tentative Discussion on Development of Symoblic Function for Pre-history Jade in China

在中国古玉发展的历程中,史前是一个极为重要的时期,正是从这一时期开始了几千年来中国古玉与人们思想意识相结合的历史,也就是在中国玉器发展史上从自然美过渡到寓意美的阶段。从目前的考古资料来看,史前古玉在同一时期有其发展的统一性,以及不同时期上发展的连续性。也就是说,在同一时期,虽然非理性的表达方式各有不同,玉器里所积淀的社会观念和意识即理性的内容却是基本一致的。据此,史前玉器寓意性功能的发展可以分为三个阶段:史前玉器寓意性功能发展的滥觞期、玉神灵崇拜寓意性功能阶段、玉“神人”崇拜寓意美阶段。

The prehistoric period is a very significant stage of the development of aesthetics on ancient Chinese jades. It witnessed the combination of jades and ideas, as well as the transition from natural beauty to symbolic beauty in the Chinese aesthetic history. The archaeological evidence shows a highly identical style among contemporary jades and a continuity of jades in different periods. In anther words, though expressed in different ways, the social concepts and ideas conveyed by these jades were quite similar. Therefore, the development of aesthetic ideas in prehistoric jades is divided into three phases： the initial stage, the stage of worship to mythic creature, and the final stage of worship to god.