“颂”字本义新考

“颂”是会意字。本义为人屈膝低首恭顺地用语言与神灵沟通。指称范围扩大后,指一般的外表仪态。又因为同音假借,有了“容纳”的含义,基于此,东汉学者对“颂”字的解释与先秦相比有差异。后代有学者认为“颂”是“诵”的后起替代者,这不正确。“颂”字的基本内涵,是下对上的衷心称美赞扬,在上古文化背景下,其指向,是当时人们心目中的最高者:神明。

The New comprehension about word Song

It is an Understanding of word Song. The original idea of it is communion with deity from human being by word. With extension, the idea of word Song became wider. It can be used to express the appearance of human being. Word Song got a new signification of contain. On this, the scholars of Han dynasty gave many new comprehension to the word witch was really different from dynasty of Pre-Qin. After that comprehension, some scholars believe that word Song must be the relay of word Song. Infect, that is wrong. The original idea of word Song is praises from lower to superior. In primitiveness, for the special civilization, the target of Song is deity, which is the most high in the mind of human being.