《尚书·虞书》“诗言志”说的启示

Enlightenment of“The Poetry Expresses One's Will”from The Book of History

相传孔子删诗,是从三千多首古诗中选取三百零五首编辑成册,此即汉以来所说之《诗经》。而这三千多首古诗,当是我国最早的"诗"了。那么弄清这些最早的"诗"的功能和性质,则《诗经》这部作品也就可以大致定性。关于"诗"的功能和性质的记载,最早见于《尚书·虞书》舜命夔"典乐教胄子"那段话。据此则知,"诗"是用于"言志"的,并要配合音乐来歌唱,讲求声韵和谐美听,"八音克谐,无相夺伦"。歌唱时还要"击石拊石",打击乐器以协调统一节奏,进行纹身化妆的"百兽舞"表演。总之是诗、乐、舞三位一体,无疑这即是一种带有浓厚巫文化色彩的原始巫祭仪式,而非简单的音乐或诗歌教学活动。而"诗"在巫祭中的功用,即是表达祈祷祝愿之类群体欲望,所谓"诗言志"者本意在此。因此,《诗经》中诗应该就是用于巫祭的礼辞,其作者当然是那些主持巫祭仪式的巫师。为了作进一步侧证,文本还引用《诗大序》关于《风》《雅》诗区别所说一段十分费解的话详加读识,以供参考。

The earliest document about the function and quality of poetry came in The Book of History, which stated clearly that the poetry expresses one’s will with songs and dances. Poetry is of trinity-poem, music and dances, which is undoubtedly a primitive memorial ceremony with profound witchery culture, but not a musical or poetic teaching activity. It is aimed to express wishes. Thus, the poetry in The Book of Songs is used for sacrifice memorials. The paper also presents some other evidences for reference.