夔(kui)(kuí)是(shi)古(gu)代中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)神話(hua)傳(chuan)說中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的一(yi)(yi)條(tiao)腿的怪物(wu)。《山海經·大(da)荒經》記載:東海中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有流波(bo)山,入(ru)(ru)海七千里。其(qi)(qi)上有獸(shou),狀如牛,蒼身(shen)(shen)而(er)無角,一(yi)(yi)足,出(chu)入(ru)(ru)水則(ze)必風雨(yu),其(qi)(qi)光(guang)如日月,其(qi)(qi)聲(sheng)如雷(lei)(lei),其(qi)(qi)名(ming)曰夔(kui)。黃帝得之,以其(qi)(qi)皮為鼓,橛以雷(lei)(lei)獸(shou)之骨(gu),聲(sheng)聞五(wu)(wu)百里,以威天(tian)下(xia)。(譯文:夔(kui)牛是(shi)古(gu)時代神獸(shou),古(gu)時生于(yu)東海流波(bo)山,形狀似牛,全身(shen)(shen)都(dou)是(shi)青色的,沒有長角,只長了一(yi)(yi)只腳,每(mei)次出(chu)現都(dou)會有狂風暴雨(yu)。它身(shen)(shen)上還閃耀著光(guang)芒,似日光(guang)和月光(guang),它的吼聲(sheng)和雷(lei)(lei)聲(sheng)一(yi)(yi)樣(yang)震(zhen)耳欲聾。后來黃帝得到(dao)這(zhe)種獸(shou),用(yong)它的皮制成(cheng)鼓并用(yong)雷(lei)(lei)獸(shou)的骨(gu)做槌(chui),敲擊鼓,鼓聲(sheng)響徹五(wu)(wu)百里之外(wai),威懾天(tian)下(xia)。)夔(kui)(kuí)是(shi)傳(chuan)說中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的一(yi)(yi)條(tiao)腿的怪物(wu)。
《黃帝(di)內經》載:“黃帝(di)伐蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤,玄女(nv)(nv)為帝(di)制夔(kui)牛(niu)皮(pi)鼓八(ba)十面(mian),一(yi)震五百(bai)里,連震三千八(ba)百(bai)里。”九(jiu)天(tian)玄女(nv)(nv)令(ling)軍(jun)(jun)士(shi)宰夔(kui)牛(niu)制作(zuo)(zuo)八(ba)十面(mian)戰(zhan)鼓,使(shi)黃帝(di)在得(de)到九(jiu)天(tian)玄女(nv)(nv)輔助之(zhi)(zhi)后,帶(dai)兵與蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤大(da)(da)戰(zhan)于中冀(ji)。當黃帝(di)擺下“奇門(men)遁(dun)甲”陣之(zhi)(zhi)后,即(ji)(ji)令(ling)軍(jun)(jun)士(shi)以雷獸之(zhi)(zhi)骨(gu)(gu),大(da)(da)擊(ji)(ji)八(ba)十面(mian)夔(kui)牛(niu)皮(pi)巨鼓,一(yi)時(shi)鼓聲大(da)(da)作(zuo)(zuo),只見整(zheng)個戰(zhan)場地動(dong)山搖,天(tian)旋地轉,喊殺沖(chong)(chong)宵(xiao)漢,蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤兵卒神魂顛倒,沖(chong)(chong)殺無門(men),敗倒如(ru)山。“蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤銅頭啖石”,即(ji)(ji)把石頭當飯食,且能(neng)(neng)“飛空走險”。但在夔(kui)牛(niu)鼓震聲中,“九(jiu)擊(ji)(ji)止之(zhi)(zhi),尤不能(neng)(neng)走,遂殺之(zhi)(zhi)”。爾后,黃帝(di)又誅榆罔于阪泉(今河北省涿鹿縣東南(nan)),經過這場大(da)(da)血戰(zhan),天(tian)下始得(de)大(da)(da)定(ding)。(譯文(wen):在黃帝(di)和蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤的戰(zhan)爭中,黃帝(di)捕獲(huo)了夔(kui),用(yong)它的皮(pi)制作(zuo)(zuo)軍(jun)(jun)鼓,用(yong)它的骨(gu)(gu)頭作(zuo)(zuo)為鼓槌,結果擊(ji)(ji)打這面(mian)鼓的聲響能(neng)(neng)夠傳遍方圓500里,使(shi)黃帝(di)軍(jun)(jun)士(shi)氣大(da)(da)振、蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)尤軍(jun)(jun)大(da)(da)駭。)
夔與天地同生,世上(shang)只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)有三(san)只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),以上(shang)是(shi)第一只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),第二只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)乃秦始皇(huang)所殺。但(dan)秦始皇(huang)沒有黃(huang)帝的功業,所以這只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)夔的皮(pi)做成的鼓就沒那么神奇了。
更多的(de)(de)(de)(de)古(gu)籍中(zhong)則說夔(kui)(kui)是蛇狀(zhuang)怪(guai)物(wu)(wu)。“夔(kui)(kui),神魅也,如龍一足(zu)(zu)。”(《說文解字(zi)》)“夔(kui)(kui),一足(zu)(zu),踔(chuo)而行(xing)。”(《六帖》)在(zai)商晚期和西周時期青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)器(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)裝飾(shi)上(shang),夔(kui)(kui)龍紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)是主(zhu)要紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)飾(shi)之一,形(xing)象多為(wei)張口、卷尾的(de)(de)(de)(de)長(chang)條(tiao)形(xing),外(wai)形(xing)與青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)器(qi)飾(shi)面的(de)(de)(de)(de)結構(gou)線(xian)相適合(he),以直線(xian)為(wei)主(zhu),弧線(xian)為(wei)輔,具有古(gu)拙的(de)(de)(de)(de)美感。青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)器(qi)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)龍紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)常(chang)被稱(cheng)為(wei)夔(kui)(kui)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)和夔(kui)(kui)龍紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen),自宋代以來的(de)(de)(de)(de)著錄中(zhong),在(zai)青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)器(qi)上(shang)凡是表(biao)現一足(zu)(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)、類(lei)似爬蟲的(de)(de)(de)(de)物(wu)(wu)象都稱(cheng)之為(wei)夔(kui)(kui),這是引(yin)用了古(gu)籍中(zhong)“夔(kui)(kui)一足(zu)(zu)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)記載。其實,一足(zu)(zu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)是雙(shuang)足(zu)(zu)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)側面寫形(xing),故不采(cai)用夔(kui)(kui)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)一詞,稱(cheng)為(wei)夔(kui)(kui)龍紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)或(huo)龍紋(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)。