論商周「天命」思想之演變

Abstract

「天命」是中國上古時代重要的政治思想觀念，該思想解釋了王朝更替的因果，也為統治提供合法性。雖「天命」一詞大致形成於殷周之際或西周初期，然作為一思想意識則在商代時便有了雛型，且上古時代的「天命」思想並非一成不變，而是隨著時代發展與環境變化，「天命」本身的內涵與時人看待「天命」的方式亦會發生改變。早期的「天命」帶有濃厚的宗教性，商人以神話傳說與湯伐夏的歷史建構屬於商人的「天命」，輔以占卜、祭祀等宗教儀式予以維持與實踐。在商末周初之際，周人在繼承部分殷商思想文化之基礎上，融入自身的思想與文化觀念，例如：文王的德行與受命，以及對殷商亡國的歷史經驗等，形成屬於周人的「天命」思想，並由此延伸出多項內涵如：重民、修德、重農等，以此實踐「天命」。至西周中後期，面對大環境與時局的變化，周王室與周王的作為讓與之緊密相連的「天命」思想亦受到了挑戰與質疑，使周王室與周王的權威與神聖性降低乃至消失。本研究以商代至西周末為時間斷限，將「天命」思想置於歷史發展的脈絡中，嘗試探討此時間段「天命」思想的出現、發展與影響等議題，從而深化對「天命」與商周時代思想演變的理解。

The concept of "Heaven's Mandate" (天命, Tianming) was a foundational political ideology in ancient China. It served both as an explanation for dynastic transitions and as a source of legitimacy for rulers. Although the term "Tianming" emerged around the Shang-Zhou transition or the early Western Zhou period, its ideological roots can be traced back to the Shang dynasty. Far from being static, the meaning and perception of "Tianming" evolved over time in response to changing historical circumstances and social environments. In its early form,"Tianming" was deeply religious in nature. The Shang people constructed their own notion of Heaven’s Mandate through mythological narratives and the historical event of King Tang’s conquest of the Xia, sustaining it through ritual practices such as divination and sacrificial ceremonies. During the late Shang and early Zhou periods, the Zhou people inherited elements of Shang culture but also integrated their own ideological perspectives—including the virtuous conduct and divine appointment of King Wen, as well as reflections on the Shang dynasty’s downfall—thereby forming a distinct Zhou conception of"Tianming." This Zhou version emphasized moral governance, concern for the people, and the importance of agriculture as means of fulfilling the Mandate. By the mid to late Western Zhou period, however, changes in the sociopolitical landscape led to growing doubts about the legitimacy of the Zhou royal house, resulting in a decline in the perceived sanctity and authority of the king and the Mandate itself. This study focuses on the period from the Shang dynasty to the end of the Western Zhou, placing the idea of"Tianming" within its historical context. It aims to investigate the emergence, development, and influence of the Mandate of Heaven during this time frame, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of ideological change and political thought in the Shang and Zhou eras.