马王堆帛书《周易·系辞》中以“马”代“象”辨析

An Analysis on the Substitution of Horse for Elephant in Ma Wangdui Silk Manuscript Zhouyi Xici

马王堆帛书《周易·系辞》把“象”写成“马”,学者提出了各种观点,有的认为是错讹或异文,有的认为是音借,有的认为是形似,有的认为是避讳,还有的认为是反映文化变迁。这些观点都存在不能自圆其说的地方。实际上,中国古代在服牛乘马以前也存在服象。随着象的南迁,服象被服牛乘马取代。帛书抄写者应该是有意识地去反映这种变化,而没有注意到易象之象与动物之象的区别。

As for the substitution of horse for elephant in Ma Wangdui silk manuscript Zhouyi Xici,scholars have put forward a variety of viewpoints.Some argue it is a mistake or a variation;some think it is sound-borrowed;some consider it is similar in appearance;some believe it is a taboo,and some maintain it is a reflection of cultural changes.However,none of the arguments can justify itself.In fact,in ancient China,the elephants had been used to drive before the use of horses and cattle.With the southward migration of elephants,the elephants were replaced by the horses and cattle to drive.The copywriter of the silk manuscript is supposed to consciously reflect the change without noticing the difference between the image of the elephants and the animal of elephants.