北港朝天宮的空間文化邏輯

The Spatial Cultural Logic of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple

梁旭杉(Xu-shan Liang)

《宗教哲學》 94期 (2020/12) Pp. 13-76

https://doi.org/10.6309/JORP.202012_(94).0002

摘要

民間一般咸信地理環境中有所謂的「風水」之說，長期以來人們累積出一套理解生活環境的民間知識，本文根據傳統風水知識體系，探討了北港朝天宮的建築與環境配置，進一步勾勒出它的風水構造，並闡述隱含在其中的文化邏輯。本文從下面三個面向來理解北港朝天宮可能的風水結構；首先，朝天宮就位在「北港高地」與「北回歸線帶」的陰陽交匯處，這是地理與天文上的特殊先天現象。其次，在後天的建構上又分為三部分：一、廟宇的內部配置：以媽祖坐落的古井為其中心點，安中宮轉太極，神靈配位九宮八卦，同時設有七星天井、七曜香爐；二、外部城市空間：從笨港溪太極圈，南北港分兩儀，到四廟的四象安鎮；三、應用方面：外有四靈神獸守護上應三垣星宿，內設易經籤詩以供蔔筮變化。最後，在其整體的景觀意象方面，又以中國傳統的地理龍脈為其象徵意涵。經由以上的分析，我們發現朝天宮風水的構成背後，有著完整易經八卦哲學體系，包含了「太極、兩儀、四象、八卦、六十四卦」，體現具有一致性的邏輯脈絡與內涵。朝天宮的「空間哲學」蘊含了地質與氣候的特殊條件，充分發揮佈局上的易經原理與星宿屬性功能，這個哲學具有整體論特質，涵括了天文地理、陽宅星象、哲學應用等等，並展現出中國傳統勘輿的概念特色。

關鍵字

媽祖 ； 風水 ； 井 ； 八卦 ； 四靈

並列摘要

It is widely believed that Feng-shui (風水) is the organizing principle of the whole geographical environment. Being an accumulation of folk knowledge, Feng-shui has been used by people to understand their living environment. Based on the epistemological system of Feng-shui, this paper focuses on the architectural and environmental setting of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple, outlines its Feng-shui construction and explicates the cultural logic that is hidden within this construction. This paper analyzes three dimensions of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple's Feng-shui construction. First, Beigang Chao-Tian Temple is located at the Yin-Yang (陰陽) intersection of the Beigang High and the Tropic of Cancer which gives it an unique geographical and astronomical signature. Second, the artificial structure of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple is divided into three sections: the first section is the temple's internal configuration which encircles around Mazu which sits on an old well and forms a design according to Taiji (太極) then gods are placed within following Jiugong Bagua (九宮八卦), accompanied with seven courtyards symbolizing the Big Dipper, and seven incense burners which correspond to the seven luminaries; the second section is the external configuration of the city space of Bengang which includes the Taiji circle configured by the Bengang River, the two polarities(兩儀) signified by the South Port and the North Port and the four Temples which stands for the four symbols; the third section is the application of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple which applies the four sacred beasts as guardian spirits and corresponds with the Chinese constellations. Yijing (易經) poetry for the use of divination is also provided in the Temple. Third, this paper captures the overall landscape imagery and discusses the symbolical significance of the Dragon Vein in Chinese traditional geography. Through the above analysis, we will discover the philosophical system of Yijing and Bagua which supports the Feng-shui construction of Beigang Chao-Tian Temple. This system contains Taiji, two polarities, four symbols(四象), eight trigrams(八卦), sixty-four hexagrams (六十四卦)which embodies a consistent logical context and content. Beigang Chao-Tian Temple's philosophy of space implies a specific geological and climatic condition which develops principles of Yijing and the attributes of constellations. This philosophy shows a holistic character which includes astronomy, geography, mansion, constellation and philosophical application which fully presents the characteristic traits of traditional Chinese geomancy.

並列關鍵字

Mazu ； Feng-shui ； Well ； Bagua ； Four Sacred Beasts