从“穆”的词源与神话解析其宗教涵义

Analyzes the Religious Connotations of "rmu/dmu" from its Derivation

"穆"(rmu/dmu)是藏族古代四大或六大氏族名之一。文章从藏缅语系统中的"穆"与苯教文献中"穆"的神话传说两方面分析"穆"的词源。认为在不同的时期"穆"有不同的宗教涵义。最初"穆"的涵义可能指的是"光"、"光明";后来发展出"天"的抽象意义;再之后,逐渐精致化为"神"的意义,同时出现了穆神居住的地方"穆域"和穆神家族即"穆族人",最后穆族人从神话中脱离了出来,成为藏族人真实的古代氏族名称。

Rmu/dmu is the name of one of the four or six Tibetan ancient clans. This article analyzes the derivation of rmu/dmu from Tibeto-Burman Branch and Bon literature firstly, and then discusses its religious connotations in different periods. Specifically, it maybe meant ＂luminosity＂ initially, then extended to the abstract meaning of ＂sky＂ gradually, after it meant＂deity＂, and at the same time, it referred to the ＂rmu/dmu＂deity and the place where they resided, finally, the ＂rmu/dmu＂ clan broke away from the mythology and became the name of a Tibetan clan in reality.