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從干支之文字符號探討傳統時間觀念
The Study on the Traditional Chinese Concept of Time from the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch
摘要
本篇論文採用文字符號學的方法，首先說明「時間」是什麼，繼而根據我民族歷來的紀年月日法，找出天干地支這個具有民族特性、表示時間的字符群；再根據歷來諸學者對天干地支字構之詮釋，從造字心理的角度，耙梳分辨此一系譜裡各個意義單元之間的雷同和區別，由符號之間的關聯，發掘傳統的時間觀念，追尋這個「集體現象的無意識性質」的符碼。 分析的結果顯示，天干地支的字符都是依據觀測大自然、以其循環往復之規律影響萬物生產的觀念為基礎而產生的，使用的載體都是農業、畜牧業時代的標誌性具體事物。由此可知，漢族初民對時間的認識，是通過體悟而非抽象的分析而獲得的；極具物質性和具體性；並未以心靈的延伸來定義時間，也未把對時間的知識問題轉為對人生意義的探尋。漢民族傳統時間觀的特點因此是：1.把時間和大自然的生息緊密聯繫；沒有宗教崇拜或玄想成分的作法；2.意識到時序時機的重要性。中華時間概念除了經濟元素之外，還包含有道德的成分。
並列摘要
This is a semiotic study on the Chinese traditional concept of time. Firstly, what is time is defined; secondly, according to the various methods of recording time in Chinese history, the target words for analysis are selected. They are 'Heavenly Stem' and 'Earthly Branch', which are the most significant and outstanding counting system in the Chinese traditional calendar. Various studies on the 'Heavenly Stem' and 'Earthly Branch' in the history or recently were collected and examined. The semiotic approach is then employed to analyze and compare the similarities and differences between the interpretations to find out the code behind the invention of the signifiers, i.e. the 22 characters of 'Heavenly Stem' and 'Earthly Branch'; to reveal the origin of the Chinese collective concept of time. The result of the analysis shows that all the signifiers of the 'Heavenly Stem' and 'Earthly Branch' are created by observing the phenomena of Nature to see how the changes of seasons influence on the productions of every thing on earth; these sign vehicles are pictures of major substance in agricultural or fishing and hunting society. Therefore, it is concluded that the recognition of time was achieved through substantial observation but not abstract analysis; it is based on concrete and tangible events. There is no spiritual element in the definition of time. Also, the Chinese did not turn the knowledge of time to the search of the meaning of life. There are two features of the traditional Chinese concept of time are suggested: 1. No religious or imaginative aspect was involved; 2. Aware of the importance of timing. There is ethical outlook other than the economic facet.