“穆天子”类志怪故事与“前丝绸之路”

The Myth of“MuTianzi”Type and the“Pre Silk Road”

“穆天子”故事的原型,来源于周穆王通过“前丝绸之路”巡游草原游牧部落的经历。故事散见于各种“志怪”著作中,内容丰富、特征鲜明,折射出当时独特的文化内涵。甚至产生了以“机器人”为主角的中国文学史上最早的科幻小说,其成因颇有探究价值。成因大致可从三个方面论述一、穆天子本人具有传奇性的真实经历;二、“穆天子”传说可以说是中西交通线上早期工业文明在东方的投影;三、“穆天子”传说适宜融入道家作品以宣传其思想。无论何种成因,又均与“前丝绸之路”密切相关。

The prototype of the story“Mu Tianzi”comes from the experience of King Mu of Zhou who traveled to nomadic tribes on the grassland through the“pre silk road”.Stories are scattered in all kinds of“Zhiguai”works,which are rich in quantity and distinctive in characteristics,reflecting the unique cultural connotation at that time.It even produced the earliest science fiction in the history of Chinese literature with robot as the protagonist,and its causes are worth exploring.The causes can be discussed from three aspects:first,Mu Tianzi himself has a legendary real experience;second,Mu Tianzi’s legend can be said to be the projection of early industrial civilization on the eastern and western communication lines in the East;third,Mu Tianzi’s legend is suitable to be integrated into Taoist works to promote his Taoist thoughts.Whatever the cause,it is closely related to the“pre silk road”.