汉画像“玄猿登高”升仙含义释读

An Interpretation of the Meaning of Becoming Immortal of “Black Ape Ascending a Height”in Stone Portraits of the Han Dynasty

在汉代画像材料中,玄猿登高是比较常见的造型。汉画中的猿猴登临位置有楼顶、阙顶、榭顶,据此汉画像中的玄猿登高图可分为三种类型。汉画中楼阙常有其象征意义,尤其是门阙常指向成仙或升天。所以汉画中登高的玄猿有导引墓主升仙意义,这也是汉画中猿猴常与仙鹤、凤凰、羽人甚或西王母、东王公联袂出现原因之所在。汉画中的玄猿登高图及其升仙含义的获得或与战国秦汉间盛行的导引、行气等养生术有关,并在后世猿猴题材的文学创作中得到体现。

In the stone portrait materials of the Han Dynasty,"Black Ape Ascending a Height"is a very common shape.According to three kinds of positions that the ape ascended,i.e.the tops of a pavilion,an entrance building,or a shed,the"Black Ape Ascending a Height"pictures in Han stone portraits can be divided into three types.In the Han stone portraits,pavilion and entrance building have a symbolic meaning,especially the latter often refers to becoming immortals or going up to Heaven.So the black ape which ascended a height in stone portraits bore the significance of guiding the owner of the tomb becoming an immortal,and that is why ape often appeared together with crane,pheonix,feathered man,or even Queen Mother of the West,and King Duke of the East.The kind of"Black Ape Ascending a Height"picture and the significance of becoming immortal in that times might related to the Taoist regimen prevailing in the Warring States,Qin,and Han period.