后羿射日考辨——兼论《尚书·胤征》冤案

On Hou Yi Shooting Suns——A Grievance about Yin Zheng of Shang Shu

后羿射日,是我国古代著名神话之一。然而,世人却对此有着不同的看法。如羿射九日说、羿射九乌说、两羿说等。而这些都并非历史事实,其真正的来源是《尚书·胤征》篇对于羲和的一桩冤案。羲和并非沉湎于酒之人,而是一位刚正不阿的忠臣。后羿谋权篡位,掌管日月之事的羲和便不为其颁历。不料,日食出现,"君弱臣强"之流言纷起。后羿恐慌,便嫁祸于羲和,并派胤候征伐之,以安定民心。射,通斁;日,代指日食。射日神话之源,实为后羿厌恶日食之流言,后由胤候射杀羲和演化为后羿射日之神话。此过程蕴藏着中华民族深厚的文化内涵,如英雄崇拜心理、民族融合需求、和平安定愿望等。历史中的国贼演化为神话里的英雄,这正是社会和谐的真实体现。

“Hou Yi Shooting Suns” is one of the illustrious myths of China .Different people ,however , have different views ,such as“Yi Shooting nine suns” ,“Yi Shooting nine crows” ,“two Yi”and so on . But these are not historical facts .The myth comes from a grievance about “Yin Zheng of Shang Shu” . Xi He is a loyal minister but not a tippler .Hou Yi usurped the throne;Xi He did not serve him .Sur‐prisingly ,a solar eclipse appeared .There was a gossip of “liegeman bullied king” .Hou Yi was very a‐fraid and framed Xi He .He sent Yin Hou to attack Xi He＇army to stabilize people .“Shoot” equals to“dislike” .The sun refers to solar eclipse .The myth＇s source is that Hou Yi dislikesd the gossip of e‐clipse .Then ,shooting Xi He is translated into the myth of “Hou Yi Shoots Down Suns” .The process contains the deep cultural connotation of the Chinese nation ,such as hero worship psychology ,the re‐quirements of national fusion ,the desire of peace and so on .It ,that the thief becomes the hero of the myth ,is a sign of social harmony .