论苏美尔文明中的“道”

On ME in Sumerian Civilization

苏美尔文明中有一个非常重要的概念,苏美尔人称之为"me"。这个概念内涵丰富,包括几个层次。一被用来表述天地母,即天地万物最原始的推动力;二被用来表述某些物质和精神中固有的规律和本质属性;三被用来表述内含或拥有这种规律和属性的物质和精神。三层不同含义用一个词表述,这给现代学者带来理解上的困惑,以至于直到如今学术界对这个概念仍感到莫名其妙,甚至找不到一个恰如其分的、能被普遍接受的词来将这个概念转换成现代语言。本文释"me"为"道",以"道"论"me",认为"道"不但可以再现"me"的神韵,而且可以揭示"me"中蕴含的苏美尔人的神学和哲学思想,以及他们在认识自然和人类社会方面取得的卓越成就。

ME is an enigmatic conception in Sumerian civilization.It has been the focus of various studies for nearly a century,but scholars have so far failed to grasp its profound connotations,which,according to the present study,cover three epistemic levels.Firstly,MEwas used to denote the primordial creating force which separated the heaven from the earth,gave birth to the universe and governed it ever since.Secondly,MEwas used to denote the essential attributes,the basic laws,the ideal state,etc.,which were inherent in certain materials,matters and spirits.Thirdly,MEwas used to denote those materials,matters and spirits in which were inherent the above-mentioned essential attributes,the basic laws,the ideal state,etc.While scholars have not been able to find an equivalent word to translate this conception in modern languages,they either leaveMEuntranslated or translate it into＂divine powers＂and the like,which,as they confess,is of little help to the understanding of this conception.The present paper argues that the Chinese conception represented by Tao is the closest counterpart of the SumerianME,not only in meaning,but also in spirit.