河流之“界”/“介”:城市的意义生成与变迁——以上海为考察对象

The “River” as Boundary or Medium : the Meaning Formation and Changes of City——A Case Study of Shanghai

河流，先于城市而在，伴于城市而生。与现代城市中的拱廊街、摩天大楼、电车等“现代器物”不同，河流记载、表征、定义了城市文化和城市历史。作为“界”的河流是维系城市正常运转的生命线，在地理空间上以概念化和实体化的方式连通城市。作为“景观”的河流是现代城市塑造其形象、建构其记忆的重要媒介。此外，河流的自然属性赋予了它超越城市的意义，以风景的形式生产出“民族—国家”话语。河流接续了传统与现代、历史与现实、真实与虚拟，成为理解城市意义及变迁的重要媒介。

A river was formed before a city and grows with a city. Unlike the "modern things"——arcades,skyscrapers,trams,and so on——in a modern city,a river records,represents and defines a city’s culture and history. As a "boundary",the river maintains the city’s normal function,connecting its geographic space both conceptually and substantially. As a "landscape",the river in a modern city is a significant medium that builds the city’s image and constructs its memory. Besides,the river’s natural attribute endows itself with a meaning of "transcending the city",and in the form of the "scenery",it produces the "nation-state"discourse. Bridging thetradition and modernity,history and reality,truth and virtuality,a river becomes an important medium for us to understand the city’s meaning and changes.