“洗儿”风俗的源与流——从梅尧臣“洗儿”一事说开去

A Study of the Origin and Development of Custom of "Xi’er"——From the Event of "Xi’er" of Mei Yaochen

笔者从宋诗"开山祖师"梅尧臣五十七岁生儿的"洗儿"一事起兴,广搜文献史料,探索出"洗儿"始于唐代,而唐玄宗则是始作俑者。这一自先秦礼仪演绎而成的民俗,自唐绵延不断地传至今日。由于"辟邪"、"吉祥",是中华民族传统的人生理念和意识追求,它必将作为一项非物质文化遗产而永远传承下去。"才高位低"的梅尧臣"洗儿"中,能有京师"开封大尹"、"唐宋八大家"之一的欧阳修和范文正公仲淹、富弼如此著名人物临场,并相继留下《洗儿歌》。这是"洗儿"文化史上绝无仅有的。

Starting with the event of ＂Xi’er＂ when Mei Yaochen, a pioneer of Song poetry, has a child at the age of fifty seven, the paper explores that the custom of ＂Xi’er＂ is originated in Tang Dynasty, which is invented by Emperor Tang Xuanzong. The rite in pre-Qin period evolves into folklore, and passes to today from Tang Dynasty. It will be inherited forever as a intangible cultural heritage, because ＂warding off evil spirits＂ and ＂propitiousness＂ are the traditional philosophy of life and ideological pursuit for Chinese. In the event of ＂Xi’er＂ of Mei Yaochen, who is of great talent but low official status, the social elites like Ou Yangxiu, Kaifeng Perfect directly under the Capital, one of Eight Great Men of Letters of the Tang and Song Dynasties; Fang Zhongyan, a politician and writer in the Northern Song Dynasty; Fu Bi, a famous statesman, strategist and diplomatist of North Song Dynasty, are present at the rite of ＂Xi’er＂, and writes Song of Xi’er, which is unique in Chinese cultural history.