知识、信仰与政治文化:中古时代东西方关于极光的书写  

Knowledge,Belief and Political Order:The Historical Writing of Aurora in the Medieval World

作　　者：余欣 YU Xin

机构地区：[1]浙江大学古籍研究所,浙江杭州310058

出　　处：《学术月刊》2022年第12期176-190,共15页Academic Monthly

基　　金：国家社会科学基金重大项目“敦煌吐鲁番汉文与民族语文数术文献综合研究”(22&ZD220)阶段性成果。

摘　　要：将中国古代极光记录重置于祯祥灾异的语境下考察,并通过东西方比较的视角来探讨极光的历史书写所映照的知识-信仰体系和政治文化。在全面梳理中古时代极光相关文本与图像史料的基础上,反思了界定极光的标准问题,进而厘清汉代以来极光书写模式及其成立、衍变的发展脉络,揭示中国传统极光书写可以概括为天象灾异-政治事件关联模式,其政治文化特质是基于阴阳灾异、谶纬数术理论,并为朝鲜、日本所模仿和承袭,体现了相同的灾异观念和政治合法性建构模式,显示了“东亚灾异文化圈”的存在。对同一极光现象的东西方书写异同的分析表明,尽管前现代欧洲的极光记录,同样与战争和疫病相关联,但与东亚世界所共享的建立于阴阳五行的知识内核、信仰体系与政治秩序之上的“交织结构”迥然不同,而东亚历史书写对灾异征应指向解释的歧异,则有助于理解灾异文化和政治运作在各自风土中的同构而异相。This paper investigates how the recording of a unique natural phenomenon,aurora,in ancient East Asia reflects the system of knowledge and different ideas of political control.The possibilities of witnessing aurora were much higher in ancient East Asian world than in modern times,which are resulted from the variation of North Geomagnetic Pole and solar activity.The paper approaches the subject through a comparative perspective between the East and West.Specifically,it addresses four aspects:(1)The pattern and criteria of aurora records;(2)The establishment,transmission and transformation of the knowledge of aurora;(3)The origins of the thought and belief on disasters and anomalies associating with the phenomenon of aurora;(4).The institutional,military and social significance of aurora writing.Through a thorough survey of the aurora accounts from the Han to the Northern Song dynasty(3rd century BC to 12th century AD),it reveals a principal pattern:firstly,it describes aurora in details,including the emerging time,location where it was observed,its color and shape,and,secondly,providing an interpretation based on divination.Finally,this interpretation is linked to a specific political event or political figure.This pattern of narrative was forged during the Han,and had been adopted in the subsequent eras with minor variations.The interpretation,which usually treats aurora as a disastrous and anomalous sign,were based on the theory of Yinyang and the Five Elements.It was the cornerstone of aurora writing in traditional China.Notwithstanding in pre-modern European accounts of aurora,there are lots of related myths and legends associated with wars and epidemic diseases.There are similar counterparts in Chinese accounts,except that the later one was formed around the belief system and knowledge structure of Yinyang and the Five Elements theory.The paper provides a new explanation on the“intertwined structure”between knowledge,belief,and political order in East Asian literature.The pattern of aurora depicted in medi

关 键 词：极光 灾异 历史书写 政治文化 世界图像 

分 类 号：K23[历史地理—历史学]