论项羽之死——文化的视角

Causes of Xiang Yu's Death

项羽兵败身死,除学界已多有探讨的社会背景、决策得失、谋略高下及其性格气质等表层原因外,深层次原因是"潜伏"于其内心深处的文化观念,主要包括"仁义礼信"观念与"无颜见江东父老"意识、乡土意识与衣锦还乡观念和极端的复仇意识等。正因如此,才在中国历史上引起了一场旷日持久的广泛讨论,从而造成一种独特的文化现象——有关项羽兵败身死原因的论争,并最终使其兵败身死有了非同一般的文化意义。

Except the social background, policy-making errors, absence of military tactics and his personality, there are many cultural causes concealed at the bottom of his heart for the death of Xiang Yu after the military failure. These causes are mainly referred to as senses such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and honesty, together with provincialism and revenge awearness. It is these causes that bring about far-reaching and abroad discussions about his death in Chinese history, which contributes a particular cultural phenomenon to present the death a extraordinarily cultural significance.