从蚕的生命到艺术:中国古代生命观的哲学表达

From the life of silkworm to art:Philosophical expression of the life view in ancient China

中国考古出土的蚕业实物及蚕的艺术形象比较丰富,蚕的艺术形象如蚕纹、陶蚕蛹、牙雕蚕、玉石蚕、铜蚕、金蚕等,可统称为“蚕的模拟形态”。对蚕的模拟形态的功用,已有的诸多解释都有待完善。研究表明,蚕的模拟形态或艺术形象表达的功用或为饰品,或为装饰图案,或有待进一步考究。但无论哪种功用,用“蚕”这一形象都蕴含了特有的用意。通过对中国古代生命观的考察,文章认为蚕的艺术形象折射出相应的中国古代哲学生命观,即中国古人追求的死而复生、生生不息、羽化成仙、长乐无极等观念。

The archeologically unearthed objects of sericulture and the silkworms have abundant artistic images,either in two-dimensional linear forms,such as the silkworm pattern on the ivory carving cup unearthed in Hemudu[河姆渡],the silkworm shape,cocoon shape and silk shape symbols in the Neolithic pottery inscriptions in Shuangdun[双墩]Village,Bengbu[蚌埠]City,Anhui Province,or three-dimensional images such as ivory silkworm,jade silkworm,copper silkworm and golden silkworm,which can be collectively referred to as"the simulated forms of silkworm".The existing explanations of various simulated forms and functions of"silkworm"in academic circles can be summarized and classified into three types:Ⅰ)the"silkworm"is regarded as a totem,Ⅱ)the"silkworm"is used as a medium for the communication between human and gods,andⅢ)the"golden silkworm"is deemed as a symbol of wealth.There are more or less problems in these understandings.The research shows that some of simulated forms or the artistic image expressions of silkworm function at the material level as decorative symbols,or ornaments worn by people,while others function as something that can be hardly explained now like wizard magic tools.But they share the same spiritual functions,that is,all use the image of"silkworm"to contain a unique intention,which is inwardly connected with the expression of ancient Chinese outlook on life.First of all,the life of silkworm only lasts 40-60 days.It is easy to observe the change process of silkworm from egg and larva to pupa and moth.Human life is similar to but longer than that of silkworm.The female silkworm moth[阴]lays eggs after mating with a male silkworm moth[阳],and the eggs hatch larvae which start a new life,forming an endless cycle and endless life,which is completely consistent with the outlook on life in Confucianism and Taoism.Secondly,compared with the larva,the silkworm moth,after experiencing the hardships of"cocooning and self-binding",has wings to surpass the original moving trajectory of crawling on the two-dimensional plane,which is also quite similar to the Taoist thought of becoming an immortal.Silkworms become pupae and moths for rebirth after spinning,cocooning and self-wrapping,which is exactly the same as wrapping corpse with silk fabrics in the hope that people can be reborn after death.Thirdly,the silkworm produces silk as long as hundreds of meters or even kilometers,which can symbolize people’s expectation of longevity.Fourthly,silk can be made into exquisite silk fabrics,which can be made into clothes and sacrificial articles as well.Therefore,we believe that the artistic image of silkworm reflects the life outlook and philosophical view of the Chinese ancients,that is,the concepts pursued by the Chinese ancients,such as resurrection from the dead,endless succession,emergence into immortality and infinite happiness,which echo the philosophy expressed in the traditional Chinese Confucianism and Taoism.