周初“中国”的内涵及其意义的嬗变

The Connotation of zhong guo in the Early Zhou Dynasty and the Transmutation of Its Meaning

“中国”一词较早见于《尚书·梓材》、何尊铭文等文献之中,结合何尊“宅兹中国”的诰词及天亡簋铭文内容可以推断,武王克商之后即有营建“天下之中”的“有夏之居”作为东都的打算。这一时期“中国”还仅是一地理概念,特指伊、洛一带夏人的故居。周平王东迁以降,“中国”一词的含义不断衍化丰富,经历了由地理区域、京师、诸夏等到包含有政治、文化、哲学意义的综合性概念的嬗变。在“中国”观念的影响下,“中国”的意涵日趋扩大,“中国”也在华夏民族之外容纳了更多不同的族群,“中国文化”也因此不断得以丰富。

The word zhong guo can be seen in"Zi Cai"of Shang Shu and the inscription of He Zun in the Zhou Dynasty.In combination with He Zun's inscription of"residing in zhong guo"and the inscription of Tian Wang Gui,we can conclude that Emperor Wu planned to build the"Xia residence"as the east capital after he defeated the Shang Dynasty.At the same time,zhong guo was just a geographical concept,especially it refers to the former residence of Xia in the area of Yi Luo.Since Emperor Ping moved to the east,the concept of zhong guo have changed.It has experienced the evolution of comprehensive concepts including political,cultural and philosophical significance from geographical region,capital and Zhu Xia.In the influence of zhong guo,the meaning of the word zhong guo is expanding.Zhong guo also holds many different ethnic groups outside the Hua Xia nationality,the"zhong guo culture"has been enriched and diversified.