论张载理学体系中的“言象意”关系

The Relationship between“Language,Images and Idea”in Zhang Zai’s Neo-Confucianism

“言象意”关系是中国传统文化中的一个重要问题,张载儒家气学的进路为这个问题提供了一种独特的解读方式。他认为“意”指的是形而上者的“神-化”,神与化是气运行化生万物的两种根源,无所不在而又无形无相,不可用感官去经验,而只能靠言说来使其得到形象,这就是所谓的“可言之象”。在张载看来,首先,神化的本质是实有的气,这是其能够被言说的存在根据;其次,语言本身具有显现变化的功能,这是语言得以言说形而上者、进而成象的必要条件;最后,达到圣人的阶段方能穷尽神化的内涵,换句话说,在圣人这里“言可尽意”。

The relationship between language,images and idea is an important issue in Chinese traditional culture.Zhang Zai’s approach of“Qi-theory”provides a unique way to interpret this issue.He thinks that“idea”refers to the“Shen-Hua”of the metaphysics.Shen and Hua are the two sources of Qi’s transformation and creation of all things.They are omnipresent and invisible,and can not be experienced by the senses,but can only be visualized by speech.This is the so-called“images that can be expressed in language”.In Zhang Zai’s view,first,the essence of Shen-Hua is real Qi,which is the basis of ontology that can be said;Second,language itself has the function of showing changes,which is the necessary condition for language to express metaphysics and to create images;Finally,only when we reach the stage of sage can the connotation of Shen-Hua be acquired fully.In other words,“language can express ideas entirely”here.