原始图腾的符号学阐释

Semiotic Interpretation of the Primitive Totems

图腾是初民社会集团意识的辨识标志,是一定的初民群体赖以从经验连续体或物我不分的环境中界定自身的工具。图腾的载体是可感知的实物,图腾的信奉者所诉求的是从这一可感知的具体载体指涉或关联到不可感知的抽象观念。特定的图腾与指涉的观念之间未必具有逻辑或物理意义上的根据,但一旦被有关初民社会所接受,就具有不可逆的文化规范性。图腾符号的生命力很大程度上有赖于神话话语、宗教仪式、原始绘画等不同种类的符号系统的元符号学演绎。

Totem is the marker for the primitive people to identify their social affiliation consciously. It also acts as the means for the primitive groups to define their existence from the empirical continuum or the environment mingled with them. The conveyer of a totem is always represented as perceptual entity while its worshipers seek to understand for their final purpose the abstract concepts referred to by such a concrete and perceptible object. There is not necessarily any logical or physical ground for the relation between totem and the concept referred to. However, once such a relation was accepted in one primitive society, it would unavoidably be subject to the restriction of the cultural norms. The vitality of a totem sign depends to a great extent on the meta-semiotic explanation given in mythical discourses, religious rites, and some primitive paintings.