“长于姜水”、“都陈”与“葬于长沙”——炎帝传说流衍途径考察

Living in the Region of Jiangshui River,Founding Capital in Chen and Being Buried in Changsha:Study on Evolution of Yandi's Legend

在炎帝传说流衍的过程中,逐渐形成其"长于姜水"、"都陈"与"葬于长沙"的说法。诸说之间似乎缺乏必然的联系,但均有历史与文化的渊源。早在先秦时期,炎帝传说在东、西方流传之时,亦有缘起于南方说流行。随着东汉后期"三皇五帝"系统整合工作的完成,以及魏晋时期以现实生活中的帝王为标准,对传说中古帝王的生平事迹、都城、陵墓所在等关键环节的再次整合,尽管依旧保留着相当浓郁的传说色彩,然而炎帝的人格化倾向却日益凸现,这是古代帝王传说演变过程中一个值得关注的历史文化现象。"姜水"、"陈"与"长沙",似乎可以被理解为炎帝传说流衍过程中三个重要的地理标志,各地不同的炎帝传说借此得以整合,最终形成一个与黄帝并称的华夏民族始祖形象。

During the process of the evolution of Yandi＇s legend,it is believed that Yandi lived in the region of J iangshui River, founded capital in Chen and was buried in Changsha. Although there were few inevitable connections among these legendary stories,each had its historical and cultural origin. In Pre-Qin Period, as Yandi＇s Legend spreading in the western and eastern China,another view was also popular that Yandi＇s legend originated from the southern China. With the completion of the compilation of Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors＇ legends in late Eastern Han Dynasty, referring to the features of the true-life emperors in Wei and Jin Dynasties, people compiled the key segments of ancient em- perors＇ deeds, their capitals and mausoleums. On this basis, the personification trend of Yandi became clear day by day, although his legendary mystery was still reserved. This was an important historical and cultural phenomenon which should be concerned in the process of the evolution of the ancient emperors＇ legends. To some extent,Jiangshui River, Chen and Changsha were three key geographical indications of the evolution of Yandi ＇ s legend. Different legends of Yandi from different regions were thereby integrated and finally shaped the figure as the ancestor of Chinese nation, earning the same reputation as Huang Di.