『黃帝四經』에서의 ‘名’의 개념과 ‘審形名’의 의미

Abstract

In Huangdisijing(黃帝四經), the silk manuscript excavated in 1973, appears repeatedly such words as ‘name(名)’ ‘names and forms(形名)’ or ‘examine their names and forms(審其形名)‘. This study reached some conclusions about the concepts and implications of that words as follows. First, the ‘name(名)’ is the system of names that people perceive and named all things around them, that is, the movement of heavenly bodies, circulation of four seasons, and the laws of growing and withering. The ‘name(名)’ includes the system of social orders that deduces from the natural law as well. It defines all things in nature and society, present the model of policy and standards of judgment. Secondly, Huangdisijing(黃帝四經) is a literature produced in the age of spreading wars. That made Huangdisijing have two characteristics of restraint on wars as well as justification for ones. For example, the phrase “When there are affairs in under Heaven, it is necessary to carefully examine there names and forms(審形名)”, which appears 12 times in Chapter one Jing Fa(經法), have two meanings. A close investigation on names to examine what is (or is not) in accordance with the principles implies the justification for aggressive wars on the one hand, and the careful consideration and restraint on wars on the other hand. Thirdly, besides the above instance, in Huangdisijing ther are many matters of war, such as the rule policy of the occupied territory, “a ruler massacres people who are obedient to him, kills the captives, and punishes the innocent, then he will bring disasters upon himself” and so on. These passages back up that the word ‘When there are affairs in under Heaven(天下有事)” means the affairs of wars or political disturbances that cause foreign affairs, therefore the phrase “to carefully examine there names and forms(審形名)” can also be interpreted as close grasp of the situation, decision of war, and mapping out of strategy.