蚕神考

Examination of God Silkworm

中国是一个传统的农业国家,故此有很多关于农业的神话传说。纺织业作为古代农业中国的支柱性产业,备受重视,先民们对于纺织神明的祭祀,对于蚕神的探寻也始终没有停止。由于文献记载以及出土文物的缺失,历朝历代所祭祀的蚕神(或先蚕)各不相同,当今对于蚕神身份的确定以及蚕神问题的研究就产生了很大的分歧。以蚕神文化为切入点,力图从神话传说、文献记载、历史来源等几个方面考证蚕神之身份。

China is a traditional agricultural country with many myths and legends about agriculture. Textile industry was the mainstay industry in ancient China and received great attention. Our ancestors never stopped their worshipping the gods in textile and their pursuit of God Silkworm. Owing to the lack of documentary record and the unearthed cultural relics, the Gods of silkworm varied in different dynasties, which results in much disagreement in identifying God Silkworm and the corresponding research. This paper started with the culture of God Silkworm, trying to examine the identity of God Silkworm in terms of myths and legends, documentary records, and historical origin.