唐代士人的臨終場景初探－以兩京地區的墓誌書寫為中心

唐代墓誌記錄了許多有關死亡的具體細節，其中臨終場景更是作為墓誌書寫的重要部分。本文以唐代兩京地區（長安與洛陽）的墓誌資料為中心，結合其他相關史料，主要探討兩個部分，一是初步重建墓誌書寫中理想與真實的臨終場景，二是討論面對死亡時的臨終遺言或遺書內容，藉此瞭解唐代士人面對死亡的心態和作法。墓誌書寫對於臨終場景有特定的模式：不幸生病、病重、不帶恐懼地面對死亡、家人環侍在側、從容留下遺言、最後安詳地離開人世。這種書寫方式正反映了人們心中的死亡理想模式，即使與實際情況有所出入。實際的臨終場景，往往從生病開始，家人在旁照料、請醫巫治病、求神問卜，等到病重時刻，家人會陪伴在側，聆聽死者最後的遺命，最後以哭泣號叫迎接死亡的來臨。從臨終遺命（遺言或遺書）內容，可知人們在面對死亡時所關心的事，除了交待家庭瑣事、財產分配、子女照顧之外，就是有關自己死後的喪葬處置，諸如喪儀、葬法（火葬、合葬或歸葬）、葬地位置等，希望子女家人能按照自身要求的方式辦理喪葬之事。如果是違背社會習俗的遺命，往往還會造成執行者的兩難困境。

關鍵字

臨終場景；墓誌書寫；士人；兩京；死亡；遺命（遺言、遺書）

並列摘要

Epitaph documents numerous specific details about the death in which the death scene is an important part. To understand the concepts and practices of death by Tang Scholars, this paper aims to reconstruct the ideal and the real death scene and discuss the contents of deathbed wishes or posthumous papers, based on the Tang Dynasty (Chang'an and Luoyang) epitaph records, in conjunction with other relevant historical data. Epitaphs written for deathbed scenes were characterized by unfortunate illness, facing death without fear, being accompanied by family members, leaving last words calmly, and finally passing away peacefully. This documentation reflected people's ideal mode of death, even if this was not the case in the actual situation. The actual death scene often began from illness and taking care by family members, followed by seeing doctor, shaman healing and praying to gods during sick time. Family members, listening to the last testament of the deceased and finally crying howl to meet death. From the contents of deathbed wishes or posthumous papers, we recognize that in addition to household chores, property distribution and childcare, people were concerned about their funeral arrangements and burial ground position, which might be in conflict with social customs.