英雄史诗与《诗经·商颂·殷武》

Heroic Epic and The Book of Songs·Shang Song·Yin Wu

《诗经·商颂·殷武》是殷商的英雄史诗,此诗之旨意前人或谓颂扬成汤的功业,此乃误读误解,此诗所歌颂者为殷王武丁。《颂》诗多关乎舞容仪式,《殷武》亦然;《殷武》主要演绎歌颂殷王武丁步武殷之先王,所取得的“文治”业绩,而非所谓的征伐性质的武功;《殷武》歌颂的武丁之英雄功业包括:狩田辟地、招徕远民、誓戒(立法)、封邦建国、建设城邑宗庙以及实行明堂制度等。古代盛传的“巡守”礼制,也就是上古所谓的“王制”,或始于武丁之时;武丁时代尚属神权时代,所以诗中还强调英雄武丁的事业离不开神灵的护佑。

The Book of Songs·Shang Song·Yin Wu is the heroic epic of the Shang dynasty.The main theme of this poem,some have mistakenly interpreted it as praising the achievements of King Cheng Tang,the poem actually extols King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty.Similar to other“Songs”,Yin Wu is closely related to ritual ceremonies,particularly those involving dance and appearance.The poem primarily recounts the heroic achievements of King Wu Ding,praising his accomplishments in the fields of agriculture,attracting distant people,establishing laws,founding states and cities,constructing ancestral temples,and implementing a system of enlightened governance,rather than focusing on military conquests.The ancient ceremonial system of“touring and guarding”equivalent to the ancient“royal system”likely began during the time of Wu Ding.The era of Wu Ding was still characterized by the influence of divine authority,the poem emphasizes that the heroic accomplishments of King Wu Ding were inseparable from the divine protection.