太昊伏羲氏与王朝合法性

Taihao-Fuxi and the Legitimacy of Dynasty

君权神授时代,"受命于天"是王朝宣示合法性的重要方式。历代王朝借助一系列充满神秘色彩的理论和实践,来证明君主们的"受命于天"。出于政权更迭的需要,原无关涉的太昊与伏羲在五德终始说中合体成太昊伏羲氏,以帝王之首的身份助力新生政权的稳定。每当皇嗣艰难,王朝统治者举行高禖祀祭拜太昊伏羲氏,祈求皇子以继承大统。尤其是政权合法性遭遇挑战时,更需祈神赐予受天命之皇子以维系万方。为从治统上证明王朝合法性,统治者建构了以太昊伏羲氏为首的帝王世系,并通过陵祀和庙祀以明治统之绪,寄望王朝在政治祖先的荫庇下千秋万代。

In the era of divine right of kings,the dynasty needs to declare its divine right from the god to prove legitimacy;With the aid of a series of mysterious theory and practice,the rulers proved their divine right from the god.Out of the need for regime change,Taihao and Fuxi became Taihao-Fuxi under the theory of "Five Virtues"and has been used in Wang Mang replacing the Han Dynasty. Once there's no prince,the rulers respected Taihao-Fuxi as Gaomei in order to have a prince to succeed to the throne,especially when the legitimacy of the regime is challenged.To prove the legitimacy in Zhitong,the rulers established the imperial lineage and put Taihao-Fuxi first.By offering sacrifices to Taihao-Fuxi,the rulers expected their regime would exist forever.