诗何以兴——再论《诗经》的文化作用

Why Can Poem Stimulate Emotion: Re-discussion on Cultural Function of Book of Songs

孔子论诗,以"兴观群怨"之说最具影响。《诗》何以兴?联系"兴"的原始意义,明显具有原始文化和原始宗教的话语表达特质;分析儒家思想的产生与其社会作用,具有祝宗卜史的知识体系和功能;早期的"兴语"和"兴诗"是原始宗教中祭祀礼仪的元素,《诗经》中的"兴"与《周礼》中的"兴语""兴诗"在本质上是一致的。结合三者,孔子所谓的"兴"是"祭礼"的重要内容,早期诗歌是国子掌握祭祀仪式的基本教典,而祭祀礼仪则是通过具有"兴"这一特质的语言来完成的。"诗可以兴"实际上指通过《诗经》的学习可以掌握"兴祭"所需要的特殊语言和形式,是当时儒家对弟子继承周礼的一个基本要求。它与联想、想象应该没有关系,而最终关系建立或者是后学的附会。

Confucius＇s most influential theory of poetry is “Xing,Guan,Qun,Yuan” （that is,stimulation,observation,grouping and complaining）. Why can poem stimulate emotion？ In connection with the originalmeaning of “Xing”,it obviously has the characteristics of the discourse expression of primitive culture andreligion. Analyzing the birth of Confucianism and its social role,we found that it has a clear system ofknowledge and function of sacrifice and prayer. The early “Xing poems” and “Xing words” are theelements of ritual in primitive religion. And “Xing” in is consistent with “Xing words” and“Xing poems” in in essence. Combining the three aspects above, we can say thatwhat Confucius said is an important content of “cult”. Early poems are the basic teaching code that theMaster uses to preside the sacrifice rite, while sacrificial rituals are accomplished by the language with thetrait of “Xing”. Therefore,what is called “poem can stimulate emotion” is actually a special form oflanguage that can master “Xing-sacrifice rite” by learning Songs. It is a basic requirement forConfucian disciples to inherit the rituals at that time. It might not have connection with association andimagination,and the establishment of the final relationship is worked out by scholars of later periods.