中国古代感生神话非图腾崇拜说初论

2 0世纪的中国学者看到中央澳洲土著的图腾感生信仰与中国古代的感生神话有表面的相似性 ,故而对其作了图腾主义的解释。但考虑到图腾制度的复杂多样性和不普遍性 ,中国文化的现实主义主旋律 ,以及中国的感生神话出现在文明时代等因素 ,中国的感生神话实际上并非图腾信仰的反映 ,而是体现了“宠神其祖 ,以取威于民”的现实主义思想。学者之所以误把中国古代的感生神话当作图腾崇拜的反映 ,是受古典进化论影响的结果。

Chinese Ancient Inductive Child- bearing Mythologies Are not Totemism

Under the influence of Morgan's classical theory of evolution,Chinese scholars of 20th century regard ancient inductive child-bearing mythologies as totemism,just because they are similar to the original inhabitants' child-bearing idea in centre Australia,where people thought it was totem that made women conceive babies.But three factors--the diversification and non-generality of totemism,the realism of Chinese culture,the appearance of late time Chinese inductive mythologies--determine that the ancient inductive mythologies of China are not totemism.