文档介绍：“生当作人杰,死亦为鬼雄”
――论司马迁之生死观与《史记》的自杀描写
[论文摘要] “人固有一死,死,有重于泰山,或轻于鸿毛,用之所趋异也。”伟大的史学家司马迁有着鲜明的生死价值观。他认为人应建功立业、扬名后世,时刻不忘其社会责任感;为了理想和道德标准,必要时应“杀身成仁,舍生取义”。司马迁在著述《史记》时,倾注这种人格理想。即使是《史记》中近百处的自杀悲剧描写,也洋溢着古代英雄主义豪迈进取的精神。司马迁的积极入世和与强烈的批判性,与孟子思想一脉相承。他所接受的儒家观念,异于以董仲舒思想为代表的“儒家正统”。《史记》是我国最具人文主义光辉的历史著作。
[关键字] 司马迁《史记》生死观自杀人格的崇高美
[Abstract] "Human beings are doomed to die someday, but their contributions to the society memorate them as significant as mountains, or as trivial as feathers." Si Maqian, one of China's greatest historians, possesses prominent values of life and death. He believes that people shall take their social responsibilities and try their best to contribute to the society. To his eye, every person should stick to a noble goal and their moral principles, even at the expense of their lives. Si Maqian's great work, Shi Ji, has noticeably reflected his belief in such ideals. Even the more than 100 cases of suicide he depicted in Shi Ji carry a strong admiration for the ancient heroes' enterprising soul. Though educated with Confucianism, Si Maqian's critical point of view is more close to that of Mencius, rather than the conventional Confucianism. Undoubtedly, Shi Ji is one of China's most significant literary works that shines with salient humanism.
[Key words] Si Maqian Shi Ji values of life and death suicide
the sanctity of noble personality
历史充满血腥,是死亡与新生的不断交替。人的存在问题,是人生的根本问题。要修一部良史,司马迁就不能回避生死问题。要深入了解《史记》,司马迁鲜明的生死观是一把很好的钥匙。
所谓“生死观”,指的是一个人对“生”与“死”的看法;简单地说,就是认为人“生为什么、可为什么而死”。司马迁有一句名言:“人固有一死,死,有重于泰山,或轻于鸿毛,用之所趋异也。”⑴可见,司马迁对生死看法比较达观,也极为重视对人生价值的追求。《史记》和《报任安书》正让我们直接或间接地了解到司马迁的生死观:
(一)为理想而活
人活在世上应有所追求。但这种追求并非仅是物质层面的,因为“古者富贵而名摩灭,不可胜记”⑵。人只能活一次,人应该有远大的理想,,时刻紧记肩上的社会责任,依靠自己的才智和不懈努力,从而名垂青史、以达不朽。古人认为,实现人生不朽的途径有三种:立德、立功、立言。“士疾没世而名不称”,作为史官,司马迁要通过修史立言而使自己的思想和文采彰于后世。可以说,修一部“究天人之际,通古今之变,成一家之言”的良史,是其毕生的理想和精神支柱。司马迁清楚地认识到,不朽的著作不仅让其生命免于同蝼蚁一般碌碌无为,还能减轻受到宫刑而带来的极大耻辱。
正因为心怀抱负,真正的英雄为了实现理想,可以坚强不屈、甚至在挫折和逆境中不惜忍辱负垢。“苟活”,也是为了尽最大努力达到人生理想。司马迁横遭“李陵之祸”,成为“刀锯之馀”。这对一个男人、尤其是一个受过良好教育的士大夫而言,可