“神明”考释

Interpretation of the "Gods"

"神明"是中国古代思想中的重要概念范畴,"神明"是由"神"和"明"两个单纯词组合而来。"神"本字为"申",本义为闪电,后因原始崇拜观念的影响而成为天神的代名词;"明"原为日月之光或月照入牅,由于日月被先民奉为神祗,"明"字也逐渐具有了"明神"之义;"神明"作为二者之合称,其本义自然与鬼神相关,是自然崇拜的神祗观念的显现,但在后世的发展中逐渐演变出"玄道妙理""湛凝精神"等意义,对中国的传统观念的演变产生了巨大的作用和影响。

＂ Gods＂ is an important concept category in ancient Chinese thought. ＂ Shenming＂ are composed of two simple words ＂ Shen＂ and ＂ Ming＂. ＂ Shen＂ the word for ＂ Shen＂,its original meaning is lightning,and then the meaning gradually becomes the synonym for the gods after the primitive worship,which is the representvie of God; ＂ Ming＂ lighting of moon and sun originally because of ancestors worship,the word ＂ Ming＂ gradually becomes the meaning of Mingshen,Shenming as the compound word,its original meaning is connnected with nature and monster,it is the obviously the representtives of Shenming concept.Yet with the deveopment of time,the meaning changes step by step as ＂ Xuandaomiaoli ＂, ＂ Zhenninjinsheng ＂,which greatlt inluences the traditional concept of China.