汉画像石(砖)上鸟啄鱼图象的意义探析

An Analysis of the Bird-pecking-fish Pattern in the Stone Reliefs of Han Dynasty

鸟啄鱼是汉代画像石、画像砖中常见的物象。汉代阴阳哲学盛行,汉代典籍中有明确将鱼鸟划归阴阳范畴的记载,鸟啄鱼基本的意义可以认为是阴阳的和合。在汉画像石不同主题情境中,这一基本意义有多重指向,如与祥瑞禽兽和神人仙兽一同出现的鸟啄鱼亦是一种祥瑞的象征,具有吉祥的寓意;出现在阙门顶部的鸟啄鱼可看作另一世界入口的标志;与作为人类始祖伏羲女娲、东王公西王母一同出现的鸟啄鱼与伏羲女娲交尾具有同样的象征意义,象征宇宙的化生、人类的生殖繁衍;四川泸州出土的画像石棺上鸟啄鱼与作亲密状的男女人物并列,其阴阳和合的意义更明显地指向男女生殖,代表了在夫妇和合、子孙繁衍方面良好的祈愿。

Bird pecking fish is a common motif in Han stone reliefs and portrait bricks. Fish and birds were classified as Yin and Yang respectively in the documents of Han dynasty. The basic meaning of bird pecking fish can be regarded as the harmony of Yin and Yang. In the context of different themes of Han stone reliefs, this basic meaning has multiple directions. The bird pecking fish which appeared together with the auspicious animals and immortals, is also a symbol of auspiciousness. Those carved on the Que might be a sign of heaven, as in general Que symbolizes the entry of heaven;those co-exist with Fuxi, Nuwa symbolized the cultivation of the universe and the reproduction of human beings;on the sarcophagus unearthed in Luzhou, Sichuan province, bird pecking fish are juxtaposed with close male and female figures. The meaning of harmony of Yin and Yang is more obviously directed to sexual intercourse, representing the good wishes of couples harmony and offspring reproduction.