南京江宁上坊谢家山出土“天乙”滑石猪与司命信仰——也谈玉石猪手握的丧葬意义

The Talc Pigs with “天乙” Inscriptions Unearthed from Xiejiashan, Shangfang,Jiangning, Nanjing and the Siming Deity Belief: Also A Discussion of the Burial Custom of Holding Jade Pigs in Hands

南京江宁上坊谢家山出土一对滑石猪手握,其腹部的"天"、"乙"刻铭应连读为"天乙",即古代星官和神祇"天一"的别写。在汉六朝时期的观念中,天一与北斗有密切关系,都属于司命信仰的一部分。此信仰汉晋时偏于北斗,多见于一般文献;六朝时偏于天一,多见于道教文献。汉六朝时期流行的玉石猪手握即是此种司命信仰的表现。由于在六朝时,其中北斗部分已由七星板来代表,玉石猪更偏向于天一的部分。这一倾向可能与道教对传统信仰的继承和发展有关。

A pair of carved talc pigs were excavated from Xiejiashan located in Shangfang, Jiangning, Nanjing with the character 天 inscribed on one of the pig＇s belly and 乙 on another. It is believed that the two characters compose the phrase 天乙（Tianyi）, an alternative writing of ;天一（Tianyi）, the Chinese deity and celestial asterism. In the perception of people of the Han and Six Dynasties, Tianyi and Beidou （the Goddess of Northern Dipper） are closely tied and both are parts of the Siming deity belief. Beidou was more popular in the Han and Jin times and is widely seen in general documents; Tianyi was more favored in the Six Dynasties and mainly appears in Taoist literature. The burial custom of the deceased holding jade pigs in hands is an example of the Siming belief. In the Six Dynasties, as Beidou had been represented by the seven-star board, holding jade pigs in hands was more of a product of the Tianyi belief, which may result from Taoist adoption and development of traditional beliefs.