神文时代:中古知识、信仰与政治世界之关联性

The Relevance between Knowledge,Worship and World of Politics in Medieval China

政治合法性往往需要建立在人们认可的知识和信仰的基础上,有其内在的逻辑。中国中古时代,知识和信仰世界也与政治世界存在着紧密的关联性。不论政治论述,还是政治实践,其内在逻辑往往植根于当时的带有神文主义色彩的知识和信仰体系中。唐宋之际存在从神文主义到人文主义转变的某些特征,政治合法性的论述也从五德终始、天人感应的神文说,转变为君主仁政说。中古时代的阴阳灾异、天文测量、五音音律、形法堪舆、星占气象、年历之学等被现代理性主义描述为荒诞的、零碎的,往往被政治史、思想史研究者所忽略或低估。将这些内容纳入到研究视野,有助于重新审视中古时代的历史,也有助于理解人类社会中,政治合法性构建通常具备的要素,尤其是与知识、信仰世界的关联性。

This paper aims to explore the relationship between world of knowledge and world of politics in medieval China by focusing on the so-called Chenwei （＂讖纬＂） Prophecy texts and the Shushu（＂术数＂） learning which on its own terms was the counterpart of today＇s ＂science＂. By examining important concepts and contents of Shushu learning, astrology, calendar, music theories, Fengshui（＂风水＂）, prophecy, messianic theories and several other knowledge systems in medieval China, the author argues that these knowledge systems and beliefs played important roles in political legitimations in medieval China. These knowledges have been conventional considered superstitious and the enemy of modernization, however, the author argues, they did construct the context which helps us understanding the political and intellectual history of medieval China as well as the knowledge world of Chinese people. Furthermore, the author argues, they were not superstitious in medieval China. On the contrary they are of the highest rationalism during the medieval period.