看見漢文字尋見創世記(8)—中國的皇朝(二)

　　正如前篇中國的皇朝(一)—黑暗皇朝の肇始所記述，中國歷史在先秦後是直到了明朝統治期間，才重新對皇朝的獻祭制度進行了研究調查，在大約西元 1369 年，皇帝(明太祖)任命了兩個由許多歷史學家組成的團體，深入研究現存的古代記錄，以確定中國先秦之前原始的祭天儀式為何。他們發現了當初由道教新垣平事件引發的滔天謬誤和偏離了夏、商、周(西元前 2205-255 )最早先的三個朝代的原始獻祭儀式。於是，他們廢除了這些做法，再次回到周朝的禮儀，亦即皇帝敬拜獨一的天上統治者，上帝。所以中國的原始宗教終歸是單一真神的，崇拜天上的創造者和那又真又活的上帝，祂的仁慈的祝福是由皇帝作為大祭司和由珍貴的已故祖先為中保所祈求的。於是，明朝第三位皇帝明成祖永樂十八年(西元 1420 年)始建「天壇」以作為皇帝祭天的崇隆場所，其最初係係施行天地合祀，叫做「天地壇」。明朝第十一位皇帝明世宗嘉靖九年(西元 1530 年)實行四郊分祀制度後， 在北郊覓地另建地壇，原「天地壇」則專事祭天、祈谷和祈雨，並正式改名為「天壇」；清朝時基本上沿襲明制，並曾在乾隆年間對「天壇」進行過大規模修建及擴建(按：「郊社之禮」分別祭祀天地)。(參圖1：北京天壇全貌重現全景；圖2：北京天壇的祈年殿及祈穀(谷)壇)

　　歷來中國古代皇帝都有祭天的儀式，中國明代編著有《大明會典》，在其第八十二卷中有系統地記載了皇帝如何率領文武百官進行祭天的活動儀式及其祭文內容。中國朝代與帝王的祭典儀式或多或少有些變化，但是大致上仍不會相去太遠。而根據《大明會典》第八十二卷的記錄(參圖3：《大明會典》重修訂版本)，在祭天的整個過程中，都會吟唱祭文歌曲，共列有十一首。這十一首樂曲並配合每一個儀式演奏：從恭迎上帝駕臨開始，呈上冊表、獻上珠寶和絲綢、獻上祭物器皿、第一次獻上美酒、獻上感謝、第二次獻上美酒、再次獻上美酒、撤離器皿祭物、恭送上帝離開，到最後燔燒祭物結束共十一道程序，可謂極其之恭敬崇隆。

　　以下整理詳細十一首中國帝王祭典之儀式曲名、文言內容、白話文翻譯，及英文原著記述內容(《The Discovery of Genesis》Study notes & References之原著參考著述英文翻譯文)。

文言：「于昔洪荒之初兮，混蒙。五行未運兮，兩曜未明。其中挺立兮，有無容聲， 神皇出禦兮，始判濁清，立天立地人兮，群物生生。」

白話：在遠古洪荒之初時，宇宙混混沌沌，無形和黑暗。那時候木火土金水五行尚未運轉，日月也尚未發出光芒。在這既無形又無聲，幽清寂寥太虛之中， 神皇上帝令出就分出了黑暗與光明。創造了天、創造了地、創造了人，天地萬物從此生生不息。

英文原記述：To greet the approach of the Spirit of Shang-Te.

Of old in the beginning, there was great chaos, without form and dark. The five elements had not begun to revolve, nor the sun and the moon to shine. In the midst thereof there existed neither form nor sound. Thou, O spiritual Sovereign, earnest forth in Thy presidency, and first didst divide the grosser parts from the purer. Thou madest heaven; Thou madest earth; Thou madest man. All things with their reproducing power, got their being.

文言：「帝辟陰陽兮，造化張。 神生七政兮，精華光。圓覆方載兮，兆物康。臣敢只報兮，拜薦帝曰皇。」

白話：當上帝祢分割陰陽(即天和地)，整個開天闢地的創造工作開始。上帝祢創造了日月和五行，光芒神奇美麗。天穹像帷幕一樣展開，並支撐著這方地，萬物都因祢的神光普照而茁壯成長。我是祢的僕人，當向祢敬拜時，敬虔地感謝祢並敬呈冊表給我們的皇天上帝。

英文原記述：On presenting the notice (recording the change of the title).

O Te, when Thou hadst separated the Yin and the Yang (i. e. the heavens and the earth), Thy creating work proceeded. Thou didst produce, O Spirit, the sun and the moon and the five planets, and pure and beautiful was their light. The vault of heaven was spread out like a curtain, and the square earth supported all of it, and all things were happy. I, Thy servant, venture reverently to thank Thee, and, while I worship, present the notice to Thee, O Te, calling Thee Sovereign.

文言：「帝垂聽兮，義若親。子職庸昧兮，無由申。冊表荷鑒兮。泰號式尊。敬陳玉帛兮，燕賀洪仁。」

白話：上帝請恩賜垂聽我們的聲音，祢是我們敬愛的天父。我是祢愚昧又庸昏的孩子，無能表達我盡職盡責的感情。感謝祢接受了我對祢的敬意。祢的聖名是崇隆的。我們恭敬地呈獻這些珠寶和絲綢，就像在春天燕子歡愉一樣，我們同聲讚美你廣大豐盛的愛。

英文原記述：On presenting gems and silks.

Thou hast vouchsafed, O Te, to hear us, for Thou regardest us as a Father. I, Thy child, dull and unenlightened, am unable to show forth my dutiful feelings. I thank Thee, that Thou hast accepted the intimation. Honourable is Thy great name. With reverence we spread out these gems and silks, and, as swallows rejoicing in the spring, praise Thine abundant love.

文言：「大筵弘開，歡聲如雷。皇神賜享，臣衷涓埃(註：ㄐㄩㄢ ㄞ，比喻微末、微小)。大鼎炮烹，肴饈馨裁。帝歆兮，兆民之福，臣感恩兮，何如幸哉。」

白話：盛大的宴席已擺出，我們的歡愉之聲就如雷鳴。統治神靈恩賜享受我們的奉獻，我的內心感覺就像一粒砂塵。這些肉都已在大鼎煮熟，馨香之氣味亦已備好。請上帝享受這供奉，然後賜福給萬萬民。 我這領受祢恩惠的僕人，何其幸得蒙福。(註：進俎 (ㄗㄨˇ，獻祭器物))

英文原記述：On presenting the vessels with offerings of food.

The great feast has been set forth, and the sound of our joy is like thunder. The Sovereign Spirit vouchsafes to enjoy our offering, and my heart feels within me like a particle of dust. The meat has been boiled in the large cauldrons, and the fragrant provisions have been prepared. Enjoy the offering, O Te, then shall all the people have happiness. I, Thy servant, receiving Thy favours, am blessed indeed.

文言：「大高降恩鑒，微情何以承。臣愚端拜捧瑤觥(註：ㄧㄠˊ ㄍㄨㄥ，古代珍貴酒器)，堅壽無極並。」

白話：偉大而崇高的獨一上帝恩賜祂的恩惠和尊重；我們都微小不配領受。我只是祂的僕人，在敬拜之時，拿著這個珍貴的酒杯，讚美祂萬壽無疆。

英文原記述：On first offering wine.

The great and lofty One vouchsafes His favour and regard; all unworthy are we to receive it. I, His simple servant, while I worship, hold this precious cup, and praise Him, whose years have no end.

文言：「帝皇立命兮，肇三才。中分民物兮，惟天偏該。小臣請命，用光帝陪，庶永配於皇穹哉。」

白話：當主如此命令時，祂呼召天、地和人便存在。在天地之間祂分別創造人和萬物，都被天空覆蓋。我是祂微小不配的僕人，乞求祂的恩惠命令，啟發我這小臣 — 讓我可以永遠與天上的主同在。

英文原記述：On offering thanks.

When Te, the Lord, had so decreed, He called into existence heaven, earth, and man. Between (heaven and earth) He separately disposed of men and things, all overspread by the heavens. I, His unworthy servant, beg His (favouring) decree, to enlighten me His minister — so may I forever appear before Him in the empyrean.

文言：「群生總總兮，悉蒙始恩。人物盡囿兮，於帝仁。群生荷德兮，誰識所從來，於惟皇兮。億兆物之祖真。」

白話：所有眾生都感懷祢對創造生命起源之恩惠。人和萬物都在上帝祢的愛中被照亮。所有的生物，都要感念你的慈愛，但是誰知道他們的蒙福都來自祂。祢是獨一的主，億兆萬物真正的祖先。

英文原記述：At the second offering of wine.

All the numerous tribes of animated beings are indebted to Thy favour for their beginning. Men and things are all emparadised in Thy love, O Te. All living things are indebted to Thy goodness, but who knows from whom his blessings come to him. It is thou alone, O Lord, who art the true parent of all things.

文言：「寶宴弘，玉幾憑，瓊液升，樂舞翱。協氣凝，民物礽(註：ㄖㄥˊ，福)，臣衷蹇蹇(註：ㄐㄧㄢˇ，跛，行走困難)兮，報無能。」

白話：珍貴盛宴淋漓展現，玉石般長椅排列，珍珠般美酒呈現 — 隨著音樂和舞蹈。和諧的聖靈凝集；人和萬物歡愉。祂的僕人的心中仍感惶惶不安，深怕無能表達自己應盡的所有義務。

英文原記述：At the last offering of wine.

The precious feast is widely displayed; the gemmeus benches are arranged; the pearly wine is presented — with music and dances. The spirit of harmony is collected; men and creatures are happy. The breast of His servant is troubled, that he is unable to express his obligations.

文言：「太奏既成，微誠莫傾。皇德無京，陶此群生，巨細幪帲(註：ㄇㄥˊㄆㄧㄥˊ，古時帳幕，在旁的叫帲，在上的叫幪)。刻小臣之感衷兮，罔罄愚情。實弘涵而容賜曲兮，納生成。」

白話：樂曲演奏已完成了，但我們的微不足道之誠意仍無法懇切表達。祢的權柄慈愛是無限巨大，祢像陶匠創造了所有眾生。大大小小都受到祢愛的庇護。正如祢愚昧的僕人心中所刻劃的是對祢慈愛的感受，讓我的感情仍無法充分展現給祢。儘管我們有過失，祢大大的仁慈仍容我們演奏樂曲，同時給予我們生命和繁榮。

英文原記述：At the removal of the offerings.

The service of the song is completed, but our poor sincerity cannot be expressed. Thy sovereign goodness is infinite. As a potter, hast Thou made all living things. Great and small are sheltered (by Thy love). As engraven on the heart of Thy poor servant, is the sense of Thy goodness, so that my feeling cannot be fully displayed. With great kindness Thou dost bear with us, and, notwithstanding our demerits, dost grant us life and prosperity.

文言：「禮詆冊薦兮，皇神垂享，萬舞畢舉兮，九成已行，帝賜洪庥(註：ㄒㄧㄡ，庇蔭，保護)兮，大我家慶。金鳴玉振兮，聲鏜鏜，群僚環佩兮，響玎璫，神人交賀兮。贊帝皇，寶稱泰號兮，曷有窮量，永固高厚兮，宰禦久常。微臣頓首叩首兮，攸沐恩光。」

白話：通過虔誠的儀式之後，記錄也已呈現，而祢，統治神靈，請享用我們的供奉。舞蹈都已完成，音樂也已響奏九次。請上帝賜下鴻福，增進我家的快樂。金樂和玉石樂器齊發出美好旋律，眾官員鑲有玉石的腰帶發出叮噹聲，神靈和人一同歡喜也，讚美上帝，我主。當我們呼喊祂的聖名時，無有限制及衡量，祂永遠厚實地固守在天上，祂的統治是永恆的。祂那微小不配的僕人，我低下頭，俯伏在塵土上，沐浴在祂的恩典和榮耀中。

英文原記述：To escort the Spirit of Shang-Te.

With reverent ceremonies the record has been presented, and Thou, 0 Sovereign Spirit, has deigned to accept our service. The dances have all been performed, and nine times the music has resounded. Grant, O Te, Thy great blessing to increase the happiness of my house. The instruments of metal and precious stones have given out their melody. The jeweled girdles of the officers have emitted their tinklings. Spirits and men rejoice together, praising Te, the Lord. While we celebrate His great name, what limit can there be, or what measure? For ever He setteth fast the high heavens, and established the solid earth. His government is everlasting. His unworthy servant, I bow my head, I lay it in the dust, bathed in his grace and glory.

文言：「瑤簡拜書兮，泰號成。奉揚帝前兮，資離明。珍幣嘉肴兮，與祝誠，均登巨焰兮，達玄清。九垓四表兮，莫不昂膛，庶類品匯兮(註：無論庶民貴胄)，悉慶洪名(註：都歡慶上帝的聖名)。」

白話：我們已敬拜完成並在這如寶石般表冊上寫下祢聖名。現在我們顯現在上帝之前，將它放在火中。通過這些真誠的祈禱，我們燃燒的這些珍貴絲綢和佳美肉品也可在大量的火焰當中騰升到遠處碧藍穹蒼。全地四面八方所有人，無論庶民貴胄，莫不向上仰望祂。都一起歡慶上帝的聖名。(註：燎音ㄌㄧㄠˇ焚燒)

英文原記述：At the burning of the offerings.

We have worshiped and written the Great Name on this gem-like sheet. Now we display it before Te, and place it in the fire. These valuable offerings of silks and fine meats we burn also, with these sincere prayers, which they may ascend in volumes of flames up to the distant azure. All the ends of the earth look up to Him. All human beings, all things on the earth, rejoice together in the Great Name.

　　民國 3 年(西元 1915 年 12 月)中華民族最後一個在北京天壇祭天的「中華帝國」皇帝中華民國首任臨時大總統的袁世凱。(參中國的皇朝(三)—上帝在中國歷史の地位(專題系列 9)之影片1：1915年袁世凱天壇祭天大典珍貴影像)