天保灵台考

An Investigation into Tianbao and Lingtai

天保本来指的是媒介天人、保佑国王的大巫师 ,亦称神保、格保、旅保、灵保等。天保观测天象妖祥的建筑———灵台 ,亦称天保。天保作为古人心目中世界山的拟象 ,建于地中 ,依于天室 ,是权力合法性的重要依据。《逸周书·度邑解》、《史记·周末纪》及《诗经·天保》中提到的天保 ,都是指灵台。

Tianbao originally refers to the magician who guards the king's safety and is given different names.The platform on which he observes heavenly bodies to tell fortunes is also called tianbao.Tianbao as the mythical image of the world mountain,built on the centre of the land,pointing twowards the Tian Shi,is in the minds of ancient people an important evidece of the lawfulness of the king's power.Tianbao mentioned in several classical works all refer to lingtai.