“五王”与“四天子”说:一种“世界观念”在亚欧大陆的流动  

"Five Kings" and "Four Emperors" :The Transmission of the "Concept of the World" among Eurasia

作　　者：王永平[1] 

机构地区：[1]首都师范大学历史学院

出　　处：《世界历史》2015年第3期30-39,157-158,共10页World History

基　　金：教育部哲学社会科学重大课题攻关项目"世界历史进程中多元文明互动与共生研究"(项目批准号:08JZD0037);北京市哲学社会科学"十二五"规划项目"从‘天下'到‘世界'--汉唐时期的域外探索及其对世界的认知"(项目编号:11LSB013);北京市新世纪百千万人才工程资助项目"全球史研究的一个视角:外来习俗与唐代社会"的研究成果之一

摘　　要：在古代阿拉伯文献《中国印度见闻录》中有一段关于阿拉伯商人与中国皇帝的对话,其中提到了关于世界诸王以及伊斯兰教、基督教、佛教等许多问题。这类记载在古代阿拉伯文献中还有许多,大都是以伊拉克王为中心,包括中国皇帝、突厥王、印度王和拜占庭王在内的"五王说",它反映了古代阿拉伯人的世界观念。在古代印度、中亚及中国也流传着类似的"四天子说"。这种观念最早出现在印度,它认为世界是由人主、马主、宝主和象主四位天子所统治,分别对应着中国、突厥、拂菻(拜占庭)和印度,而印度则是世界的中心,它反映了古代印度佛教的世界地理观。在中亚地区和中国也流行着类似的说法,大都是受其影响。从阿拉伯的"五王说"与印度的"四天子说"可以看出,古代两河流域诸王朝与古代印度在有关世界认知观念中的相互影响。实际上,它反映的是一种"世界观念"在古代亚欧大陆流动的历史。Akhbar al-Sln wa'l-Hind,an ancient Arabian document,records a conversation between an Arabian merchant and a Chinese emperor,discussing rulers and religions(Islam,Christianity,Buddhism) around the world.Such records are abundant in ancient Arabian literature,mainly depicting a picture of 'five kings' :the king of Iraq located at the center,encircled by the kings of China,Turks,India,and Byzantine.It demonstrates the ancient Arabian people's view of the world.Coincidentally,similar legends of 'four emperors' were prevalent among ancient India,Central Asia,and China.The idea originated in India,reflecting the world concept of ancient Indian Buddhism.It not only envisioned that the world was governed by the lord of human,the lord of horse,the lord of treasure,and the lord of elephant,who corresponded to China,Turks,Byzantine,and India respectively,while India was the center of the world;but also influenced legends in Central Asia and China.The Arabian ' five kings' and Indian ' four emperors' indicate that there was mutual influence between the ideology of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient India.Actually,it illustrated the transmission of a ' concept of the world' among Eurasia.

关 键 词：阿拉伯商人 中国皇帝 “五王说” “四天子说” 世界观念 

分 类 号：B920[哲学宗教—宗教学]