试论“即”在中国古代思想中的意义

The Meaning of Linking Verbs in Ancient Chinese Thought

中国思想在思想构造上表现为意义丛和意义链的思维方式,这种思维方式的实质是法象思维,这是中国人思维方式的本真特点。中国古代语言中的系词是由至少五条路径逐渐演化而来的,而这五条路径可以说都与意义丛或意义链的法象思维有着或疏或密的关系;在这五条路径所显示的意义中,指示的意义是各条路径的核心。"即"显然不是典型意义上的西方哲学中的系词,但它却最能代表中国思想中系词的精髓,彰显着意义丛或意义链之间的空白处所蕴含着的"相即不离"的真义。

Constructed out of meaning clumps or meaning chains,Chinese thought is characterized by 'typical images'(faxiang).The linking verbs found in ancient Chinese emerged from five different approaches,which were more or less tied to a way of thinking by means of typical images.Concerning these five approaches,'referring' functions as the core of meaning of linking verbs.Although 'ji' is not a typical linking verb in the context of Western philosophy,it really demonstrates the essence of linking verbs in Chinese thought by expressing an intimate relationship occupying the intervals between meaning chains.