从海神信仰看中国古代的海洋观念

海神信仰实际是涉海民众海洋观念的外化表现,通过分侧面地多角度地考察中国古代主要海神信仰从人面鸟身的早期海神到四海海神、海龙王、妈祖、地方海神和专业海神的的历史传承与流变,并通过分析海神传说及相关民俗事项,可以透视出中国古代海洋观念三个方面的主要内容和特点,即源远流长的“四海”水体观念,“鱼盐商利”的海洋价值观念,敬畏与驾驭交织的海洋本体观念。总体上看,由海神信仰所折射出的中国古代的海洋观念在现实和虚幻两条轨道上前行,并且随着涉海生活的深入在历史时期内越来越趋向现实,人海关系中人的力量不断增加。所以,那种认为中国古人将大海视为恐怖之地并对之深怀恐惧的说法是不能成立的。

On Ancient Chinese Ocean Conception from the Perspective of Sea-god/goddess Worship

Sea-god(goddess) worship is in fact a kind of representation of the ocean conception of people related with the ocean.Mainstream sea-god(goddess) worships in ancient China experienced a development course changing from the primitive sea-gods with human face and bird body to the Four-sea gods,then to the Four-sea Dragon Kings and last to Mazhu.By examining this continuous and changing course from different perspective and by analyzing sea-god legends and folk items,this article sums up three aspects of China ancient ocean conception.First,the "Four seas" water conception came into being and stood long lasting with the fusion of sea-gods and direction-gods.Second,the ocean value conception also existed in ancient China that regards ocean as a source of food,salt,trade and wealth.Third,the sea noumenon conception with which people related to the sea attempted to order ocean in some way as well as revere it.On the whole,the ocean conception of ancient Chinese evolved along two tracks: the realistic and the illusory,while both proceeded towards satisfying the needs of common people whose power has been emphasized and on increase in man-ocean relationship.Therefore,that kind of saying that ancient Chinese were afraid of the ocean and regarded the ocean as a terrible place stands not reasonable when viewed from either track.