从“事神”到“敬德”:商周“气物”观的变迁

From Worshipping the Gods"to Venerating Virtue" : the Changing View of Qiwu in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties

商周"气物"观念与神灵信仰紧密联系。甲骨文"勿"字是"物"字的初文,即后世所谓的"气物"。甲骨卜辞表明,殷人对"气物"进行祈祷和卜问以求得神灵的福佑,神意左右着人的观念。周人讲"天命有德",以"敬德保民"作为施政的指导思想,强调勤勉于人事,统治者修筑灵台以望云气是为占验吉凶以修行政务。以制度人事来代替神意验证卜辞,这是殷周之际"气物"观念的一个重大变革。春秋战国时期,在以日喻君的社会观念之下,绕日之"气物"被视为天命祥凶的征兆,登台望气成为一项"臣主共忱"的重要礼仪制度。

During the Shang and Zhou dynasties , the idea of 气物( qìwù , literally things to do with air )was closely related to belief in divinities.In the oracle bone inscriptions , the Chinese character 勿 is the origin of the character 物 ( wù , literally thing ),or what later ages called qìwù.The oracle bone inscriptions show that the Yin (Shang)prayed to the gods and sought their blessing through divination , and the godswishes controlled their thoughts.The Zhou believed thatHeaven is virtuous' , so they tookvenerating virtue and protecting the people'as their guiding thought , stressing diligence in worldly affairs.The purpose of the rulers in building the lingtai (灵台, ancient observatory)was to observe the clouds and air for the purpose of ascertaining good or ill omens for the conduct of political affairs.Between the Shang and the Zhou , a major change occurred in the concept of qìwù , as institutions and human affairs rather than the will of the gods were used to confirm the outcome of divination.In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods , the idea that the ruler was like the sun led to the belief that the qìwùaround the sun was agood or evil portent.Therefore , observing the air from the lingtai became an important and solemn ceremony for both the ruler and his officials.