汉代操蛇神人图像研究

The Study of the Images of Snake-grasping God in the Han Dynasty

操蛇神人图像主要流行于先秦时期,取像于鸟蛇相斗,旨在传达神人与蛇之间沟通的意趣,在汉代的图像中仍能发现不少操蛇神人形象的遗存。与先秦同类图像相比,汉代操蛇神人图像的传统意义更为弱化,功能也朝着更富世俗气息的行傩驱疫、祈求升仙长寿、繁衍子嗣等方面转变。随着先民自我意识的提高,操蛇神人图像的表现方式日益多元化,内涵也随之更为隐晦和世俗化。但就操蛇神人图像的本质而言,并没有太大的变化,仍然是强调对某种强大外力的掌控和利用。

The images of Snake-grasping God,mainly popular in the pre-Qin period,are the imaginative creation of the battles of bird and snake,which convey the aim of communication between human and god.In the images of the Han Dynasty,many remnants of the images of Snake-grasping God can still be found.However,compared with similar images in the pre-Qin period,their traditional meanings are weakened,and their functions have shifted towards more secular aspects such as exorcizing pestilence,praying for immortality and longevity,and reproducing more offspring.With the improvement of the self-awareness of ancients,the representation of the image of the Snake-grasping Gods has become increasingly diverse,and the connotation has become more obscure and secularized.But in terms of the essence of the image of Snake-grasping God,there has not been much change,and it still emphasizes the control and utilization of a powerful external force.