社会政治变动与西周晚期的历史表述

The Changing Socio-political Situation and the Historical Writing of the Late Western Zhou Dynasty

西周晚期至东周之初是早期史学发展过程中的一个重要节点。受西周晚期社会政治变动的影响,该时期的历史表述产生了诸多重要变化。其一为表述主题发生转变,由原来侧重表述天命、族群及周王朝的发展,转而侧重贵族家族或诸侯功业等主题,开东周诸侯国史述作之风。其二为历史表述的内容与主旨渐趋丰富多元。西周衰亡刺激时人反思历史,审视时政,开始就历史动因提出不同的解释模式,实即私人述史的一个开端。其三为述作群体扩大,人数较多的中下级贵族及普通士阶层开始成为历史表述的主体。部分贵族士大夫摆脱旧观念的约束,就历史与政治发表看法或讴歌主君,"君子作歌"之风由此而起,实为春秋家史兴盛局面的滥觞。

The late Western Zhou Dynasty is an important node in the development of early Chinese historiography.Influenced by the changes of socio-political situation in the late Western Zhou Dynasty,the historical writing of this period was in some degree overturned.First,the themes of historical writing were shifted from emphasizing destiny,the development of ethnic groups and the Zhou dynasty to stressing the history of noble families or the achievements of nobilities.Secondly,the content and purport of historical writing became increasingly rich and diversified.Finally,the subjects of historical writing expanded,with the middle and lower nobilities as well as the common literati becoming subjects of historical writing.Some nobles and officials extricated themselves from the constraint of old ideas,expressed their views on history and politics or euloquized their lords.In consequence,the ethos of gentlemen writing songs became more and more popular,which was the origin for the prosperity of family history during the Spring and Autumn Period.