朱元璋的"中原"观及其对汉语的影响

为显示其统治中国的合理性以及为择地建都寻找理据,并为恢复汉人的礼乐文物制度正名,朱元璋在立国前后对“中原”概念进行了新的阐释,从而对《洪武正韵》的命运乃至整个明朝的汉语官话产生了重大影响。《洪武正韵》与《明太祖集》诗歌分韵的一致性表明,《洪武正韵》中的所谓“中原雅音”实际上是朱元璋的家乡口音,其本人从“建业(南京)非中土”到“江左(南京)乃道里之均”的观念转变,使以南京音为代表的江淮方言成为官话基础,以致丽末鲜初的朝鲜使臣与通事们的汉语集体失效,只有移民自江左地区的偰长寿一人的汉语为朱元璋所称道,偰长寿因此成为朝鲜初期司译院汉学发展的顶梁柱;也正因如此,《洪武正韵》成为摆设,明朝文人赋诗仍然依从基于江左之音的“沈韵”。

Zhu Yuanzhang's Concept of "Zhongyuan" and Its Influence on Mandarin Chinese

Based on literature review instead of traditional phonological study,the author proposes a new point of view that Zhu Yuanzhang’s explanation for the concept of ″Zhongyuan″(Central China) and its later variation eventually led Nanjing dialect,representative of Jianghuai dialects,to become the basic dialect of Mandarin Chinese in Ming Dynasty.Before and after his founding of Ming Dynasty in 1368,Zhu Yuanzhang reinterpreted the concept of ″Zhongyuan″ to show the reasonableness of his rule,the justification of choosing the site of new capital,and the reasons for the restoration of ancient civilized ritual system of Han Nationality.He held that ″Zhongyuan,″a different concept at different times,was just a good name for being the reigning monarchs’ hometown,the place of victory and the site of capital,and that due to the rules of north minorities,such traditional Central China areas as Luoyang and Xi’an had been barbarianized and only his hometown Lin Hao deserved the name of ″Zhongyuan.″ His ministers Song Lian et al.embodied the views of Zhu Yuanzhang when they were ordered to compile the rhyming dictionary Hongwu Zhengyun so that Hongwu Zhengyun nearly coincides with the poems of Ming Taizu Ji in rhyme,which indicates that the so-called ″Zhongyuan Yayin″(elegant accent of Central China) is actually the dialect of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang’s hometown.Later,in order to establish Nanjing as the capital of Ming Dynasty,Zhu Yuanzhang pointed out in his article ″Yuejianglou Ji″ that ″Jiangzuo areas were the center of China″ and Nanjing was the real ″Zhongyuan″ as it was just located in the center of China.Moreover,he ordered the ministers to revise Hongwu Zhengyun(Eighty rhymes edition) and Yunhui Dingzheng,and made Nanjing dialect,the representative of Jianghuai dialects,the basis of Mandarin Chinese.As a result,the Korean envoys and interpreters from the end of Koryo to the beginning of Choseon Dynasty,except Xie Changshou who emigrated from Jiangzuo areas of China,could not communicate smoothly with the emperor and ministers of Ming Dynasty in their Chinese language learnt before.Therefore,Xie Changshou became the chief instructor of Sa Yeok Won(Translation Ministry) and the leader of Sinology in early Choseon Dynasty.The historical records of early Choseon Dynasty also show that in order to maintain good relationships with China,the kings of Choseon repeatedly presented memorials to Chinese emperors to request acceptance of its young people to study in China to master pure Mandarin Chinese. In 1459,Korean version of Hun Min Jeong Eum was collected in the book Wol In Seo Bo.It was pointed out in the first sentence that the so-called Chinese pronunciation was what Korean people termed ″Jiangnan″ dialect,which indicated that in Korean people’s eyes at that time the pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese just was identical to that of Jiangzuo dialect.However,Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang took the accent of his hometown as ″Zhongyuan Yayin″ which is somewhat different from Jiangzuo dialect and said that Mandarin Chinese had lost its original pronunciation just because the phonology was originated from Jiangzuo areas instead of traditional Central China areas when he ordered his ministers to compile Hongwu Zhengyun.Therefore,the scholars of Ming Dynasty dared not admit that Nanjiang dialect was Mandarin dialect,although these scholars when inditing poems still followed the ″Shenyun″ originated from Jiangzuo area rather than follow ″Hongwu Yun,″which was merely a dressing and gradually became obsolete.On the contrary,the Jesuits in late Ming and early Qing Dynasty such as Alvaro Semedo commented directly,″ It(Quonhoa,or Mandarin Chinese) is more sweet than harsh,and if it be spoken perfectly,(as it is for the most part,in Nankim) is very delightful to the ear.″