《老子》中的隐喻思维——以“水”“谷”之喻为例

The Metaphor Thinking in Tao Te Ching Illustrated by the Case of Water and Valley

从隐喻视角来看,《老子》的叙述方式与西方隐喻理论不谋而合。经文通过一系列具体的喻象使得微妙难闻的大道得到揭示,形上之道与形下之器通过喻象得到互动,"水"与"谷"具有处下、居卑的意蕴,具有承载长养的作用,"道"的诸多特性通过"水""谷"以及"婴儿"等一系列喻象得到彰显。隐喻思维在《老子》的表达中起着重要的作用,"道"本身就是一个重大的隐喻,"道"作为"道路"具有指向意义,然而"道"作为言说方式又不能言说最本原的存在,以"水"与"谷"为切入点以隐喻理论为视角来理解《老子》或许是值得尝试的方式。

The narrative way of Tao Te Ching is in accordance with western metorphor theory. Tao Te Ching reveals the subtle Tao by a series of visible metaphors. Water and valley are featured with being ＂downward＂, ＂lowly＂, ＂bearing＂ and ＂nourishing＂. The Tao can be described through water, valley, infant, and so on. Metaphorical thinking is a special way in Tao Te Ching. The Tao as the road is a metaphor that symbolizes direction. However, the Tao can not express itself through language. It is a proper way to enter Tao Te Ching from metaphor theory.