屈原自沉说之缘起与质疑及其可能终于疾病考

On the Origin and Doubts of Qu Yuan's Drowning Himself and the Possible Cause of His Death from Disease

屈原之死,汉代以来学者多认为其死于自沉。后之学者或申之、或驳之,莫衷一是。而据史籍所载,"自沉"多是后人对先秦士人或直士之死的一种褒义性指称,大多并无实证。而从楚辞文本本身与相关楚地出土文献来看,屈原最有可能是死于医学上所谓厥心痛一类的疾病,也就是《惜诵》"背膺片半以交痛兮,心郁结而纡轸"所指疾病。而这种疾病的症状在屈原的作品中也可以得到相应的佐证。比较而言,屈原死于厥心痛较之于其自沉于水更吻合于文献所载。而这一结论,不仅有助于揭开屈原死因之谜,并且对于其作品的理解以及其部分作品真伪的考辩都有着积极的意义。

Since Han Dynasty, scholars believed that Qu Yuan died by drowning himself. Some scholars supported that view while others opposed to it without a unity of viewpoint. According to historical records, ＂drowning oneself＂ was a praise to the death of warriors in Pre-Qin Period. However, it lacks evidence. According to The Odes of Chu and other documents dis- covered in the ancient Chu State, Qu Yuan probably died from a disease similar to precordial pain. The disease was described in Xisong as ＂backache, angina and resulted from grief＂. The works by Qu Yuan also provide evidence for the symptoms of such a disease. Comparatively speaking, the view that Qu Yuan died from heartache dovetails better into the records than the view that he drowned himself. And this conclusion has positive meanings in uncovering the cause of Qu Yuan^s death and in researching into the understanding of Qu Yuan^s works and the truth of other works.