论蒙古族早期创世说中的生态观

世界是由物质组成的还是意识或上帝的创造物,这一哲学基本问题是贯穿整个人类认识史并争论极为激烈的问题。针对这一问题蒙古先民们也进行过反思,并得出截然相反的两种观点,一种观点认为世界是由物质组成的。另一种观点便是创世说,认为世界是天(腾格里)或佛祖(布儿罕)创造的产物。这种观点主要集中在早期蒙古的神话故事、英雄史诗、图腾崇拜和萨满教当中。元朝、北元和清朝时期这种创世说发生了较大的变化,从原先的以萨满教为主线的内容与形式逐渐被佛教或佛教与萨满教的混合体所取代。虽然说这种自然观把自然界的形成、变化和发展问题神秘化了,但是它作为蒙古族认识史上不结果实的一朵鲜艳的花朵,其中也必然包含很多合理的成份。发现其中的合理成份,并使其运用于今天或服务于今天人们的实践活动,才能达到古为今用的目的。

The Mongolian Ecological Ideas as Seen in Their Mythology of Creation

The origin of the world,whether believed to made up of matters or created by God,is a philosophical question that starts with human epistemology.The ancient Mongolians were divided into these two too.While some took the materialistic stand,others believed Heaven made the universe,which is seen in early mythology,epics,totems and in Shamanism.This creation tradition did not change until Yuan and Qing dynasties when Buddhism came to replace or permeate Shamanism.Although this tradition mystified the origin of the world,it has elements of profound rationality,which when recognized,could contribute to present practice.