《山海经》与战国时期的造神运动

Shanhai jing (The Book of Mountains and Seas) and the God creation Movement During the Warring states Period

《山海经》中绝大多数的志怪神话并非史前文化的“遗存” ,而是在战国时代根据特定社会需求对前赋文化做出的新综合。记录在儒家经传上的传说故事也不是神话的历史化 ,倒正是《山海经》神话的原始素材。中国在很早的时候就缺乏高昂的宗教热情而以现实主义为文化的基调。这种文化在个人生活上追求长寿、富贵、多子孙。战国诸侯在享乐腐化方面超过春秋 ,他们注重养生 ,追求长生。这样 ,方术之士为取信诸侯而为历史人物制造神圣故事使战国发生了一场造神运动。这一运动的主角方士以长生不死之术谒见诸侯时多备有说辞底本 ,临事取用。《山海经》

For the most part, the strange tales and myths contained in The Book of Mountains and Seas are not the remnants of pre historic culture, but a new synthesis of contemporary cultural elements. The legends and stories in the Confucian classics provided the raw materials for the myths in The Book of Mountains and Seas. The ancient Chinese were not deeply religious and their culture was based on realism. An expression of this in peoples' personal lives was the desire for longevity, riches, honor and many sons and grandsons. During the Warring States period the nobility indulged in more creature comforts than their predecessors, they took pains to stay in good health and tried every means to prolong life. Under such circumstances, alchemists created religious myths surrounding historical figures in order to win the trust of the nobles, thus giving rise to a god creation movement during this period. The alchemists played a leading role in this movement and took copies of their tales with them when they sold their techniques for obtaining longevity to the princes and nobles. The Book of Mountains and Seas is a collection of just such tales.