中华民族自觉意识的前近代形态——以西南人群的祖源叙事为中心

Pre-modern Forms of Chinese National Self-awareness--Focusing on the Narrative of Ancestral Origins among Southwestern Populations

近代之前大致处于“自在”状态的中华民族,已产生某种“自觉”意识。考察这一意识的切入点,是祖源叙事。内地的家谱族谱,普遍将祖源追溯至黄帝。西南人群的祖源叙事,大体上有源出内地华夏、源出内地但非华夏、本土起源、域外起源四种类型,每一种都通常体现出与整个王朝以及内地的关联。在民族主义尚未兴起的前近代,在中国这样一个已有着较高整合程度的政治体中,不同区域的人群具有相通或相互关联的身份意识,而且随着国家整合的深入,这一趋势越来越明显。古代中国境内人群对自身与大一统国家之关联的“想像”,与现代中华民族的共同体意识之间,存在明显而清晰的一脉相承关系。

Prior to the modern era,the Chinese nation,predominantly in a state of"self-being"had already initiated the development of a certain level of"self-awareness".The investigation into this awareness can commence with an exploration of ancestral origins.Genealogies and clan histories in the interior regions commonly trace their ancestral roots back to Huangdi.Among the southwestern peoples,narratives regarding ancestral origins generally fall into four categories:those originating from the Huaxia people in the interior regions,those originating from other regions within China but not from the Huaxia people,indigenous groups,and those with foreign lineage.Each category typically reflects a connection with both dynastic rules and the interior regions.In pre-modern times,prior to nationalism's emergence,different regional communities within China—a highly integrated political entity—already possessed a shared or interconnected sense of identity.This shared identity became increasingly prominent as national integration deepened.The conceptualization of ancient China's relationship between its people and unified nation has clear and distinct ties to contemporary notions of community among modern Chinese citizens.