《易经》的语言形式与著作年代——兼论西周礼乐文化对中国韵文艺术发展的影响

The Style and Date of Composition of I Ching and the Influences of the Culture of Rites and Ritual Music in the Western Zhou Dynasty over the Art of Rhymed Verse in China

周初有古本《周易》 ,乃参照商之《归藏》编纂而成 ,到西周末 ,因变得艰涩难读 ,不便实占的应用 ,遂由史巫以新兴之韵文形式增损改写 ,而成为今传本《易经》。中国的韵文艺术自西周中后期起 ,能获得迅速的流行、发展 ,很大程度上乃拜礼乐文化彬彬大盛所赐 ;四言体诗歌之成熟是一例 ,今传本《易经》之撰作也是一例。

Early in the Zhou dynasty an ancient version of the I Ching (“Book of Change') appeared, which was compiled in reference to Gui Zang (归藏) of the Shang dynasty. By the late Zhou dynast it had became hard to understand, and inconvenient for practical fortune telling. It was then rewritten in the newly emerging rhymed style, giving rise to the I Ching we see today. The art of rhymed verse rapidly rose and flourished in the mid and late Zhou, largely owing to the prevailing culture of rites and ritual music at the time. The development and establishment of four character poems is one of many examples, another being the revised version of I Ching.