铜鼓与丧葬礼仪

BRONZE DRUMS AND FUNERAL PRACTICE

铜鼓是中国南方及东南亚地区许多民族的传统器物。它既是乐器,具有节乐伴舞的作用;又是部落酋长或氏族首领的权力重器和礼器,表现主人的权势和富有;还是神器,用以祭祀和娱神。铜鼓用于丧葬礼仪,贯穿在整个程序的各个环节之中。在历史长河中,有些环节虽然在此一民族中已经失落,但在彼一民族中仍然保存,可以互相弥补。铜鼓作为神器、祭器、礼器、重器、乐器,在丧葬过程中都有体现。

This essay examines the use of the bronze drum in different stages of the funeral.Bronze drums,as either the musical instrument,sacrificial utensil,ritual vessel or sacred article,are used for some ethnic groups in funeral activities,such as announcing grievous news of the dead,encoffining,guarding the bier,offering condolences and holding a funeral procession.The drums also serve as burial objects.All of these suggest its omnipresent might and paramount prowess.Beating a drum in the funeral ceremony announces a person’s death,watches on the death soul’s leave for the nether-world,expresses deep mourning from the dead’s relatives as well as friends,and escorts the deceased’s soul buck to the place where their ancestors supposedly live.The drum can also be employed as the dead’s attendant identifying with his status and wealth before.The use of bronze drums in burial is a display of its complicated social functions closely associated-with specific religious ideas held by the drum-using nationalities.