古代纹饰画像中蝉的生命文化内涵

Life Cultural Connotations of Cicadas in Ancient Decorative Portraits

古代蝉纹见于新石器时期的玉器、商周青铜器、汉代画像砖石以及汉魏以后的冠饰中,这些不同时期或写实或变形的蝉纹蕴含了丰富的文化内涵,反映了早期的图腾崇拜以及先人对不死复生的生命期求,其中掺杂了道家神仙羽化思想、佛教生死轮回信仰、儒家清高自持的道德准则,古代的蝉纹因蝉"不死复生"的特性而被赋予了深刻的生命文化内涵。蝉感清风凉露之金气,善治肝经风热之惊痫癫狂;其声清越,能治音哑;蝉蜕轻虚外达,能透疹外出;其轻虚易脱之象,又可治目翳及妇人产难胞衣不下,其功效体现了医药法象之妙用。

The ancient cicada designs are found in the jade articles of the Neolithic period,the bronze wares of the Shang and Zhou dynasties,the bricks of the Han Dynasty and the crowns after the Han and Wei Dynasties.These realistic or deformed cicada designs of different periods contain rich cultural connotations,reflecting the totem worship of early stage and the ancestors'life expectation for the immortal resurrection.It is mixed with the Taoist immortalization,the Buddhist reincarnation,and the Confucian high self-sustaining moral standards.The ancient cicada designs are endowed with profound life and culture connotation because of the characteristics of"resurrection".Cicadas are used to treat epilepsy and mania caused by wind and heat of the liver meridian because they breathe in cool gold Qi,treat low voice or mute because they have clear and melodious voice,treat measles because their shells are light,treat visual impairment and dystocia because they are light and easy to moult.Their efficacy reflects the magical application of effect of Fa Xiang theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine.