中国仙道哲学初探

Chinese Theory on Deities and Immortals

神仙想象在中国文化的总体格局中处于枢纽位置,属于元话语的形态和本体论的层次,经由神话可以通达并阐释哲学、历史和文学的各个领域的基本问题,但是这个问题长期以来并未得到应有的重视,人们以西方神话的经典形态来贬抑中国神仙特性,研究者也多在民俗学、宗教学以及文化学的层面进行讨论。中国神话思维较之西方具有非典型的形态,中国神话从巫学智慧走向了美学智慧;中国仙道智慧超越了唯物与唯心,具有强烈的唯生论哲学色彩;中国神仙想象的审美化表达方式,它是经验的哲学和叙事的哲学,突出表现为游仙、修道与逍遥三种境界。

In the entire Chinese culture, the imagination of deities and immortals occupies a prominent position at the level of meta - discourse and ontology. Through mythology one can interpret the fundamental issues in various realms of Chinese culture, including philosophy, history and literature. However, attention has not been paid to this point for a long time. Imagination of deities and immortals is treated in an inferior way compared to the classical form of mythology in the West. Discussion about the Chinese deities and immortals occurs only in folklore, religion and popular culture. This article argues that Chinese legend of deities and immortals assumes an atypical form in comparison with the western mythology. Out of sorcery, Chinese legend grew into aesthetic wisdom. In fact, Chinese thol^ght of deities and immortals transcends materialism and idealism and has a strong sense of vitalism. The aesthetical expression way of the Chinese imagination of deities and immortals forms an empirical and narrative philosophy, characterized with the wandering immortals, cultivation of the Tao and enlightened freedom.