刑天(tian)是(shi)中(zhong)國古(gu)代(dai)神(shen)話傳說(shuo)中(zhong)的(de)人物。刑天(tian)原是(shi)一個無(wu)名的(de)巨人,因和(he)黃(huang)帝(di)爭神(shen)座,被(bei)黃(huang)帝(di)砍掉了腦袋。“刑天(tian)”這個名字的(de)意思就(jiu)是(shi):天(tian)者,顛也;刑者,戮也。天(tian)就(jiu)是(shi)天(tian)帝(di),“刑天(tian)”就(jiu)表示誓(shi)戮天(tian)帝(di)以復(fu)仇。
刑天斷首的故事出(chu)自《山海經·海外西(xi)經》。
《山海經.校注》云:“刑(xing)天與帝爭神。帝斷其首,葬于常羊之野。乃以乳為目(mu),以臍為口(kou),操干戚而舞。”
刑(xing)(xing)天與(yu)帝(di)(di)至此爭神,帝(di)(di)斷其(qi)首(shou),葬(zang)之常羊(yang)(yang)之山(shan),乃以(yi)乳為(wei)(wei)目,以(yi)臍為(wei)(wei)口,操干戚(qi)以(yi)舞(wu)。”乃出于東周的《山(shan)海(hai)經(jing)(jing).海(hai)外西經(jing)(jing)》。話說(shuo)刑(xing)(xing)天與(yu)天帝(di)(di)(黃帝(di)(di))爭奪神位寶座。二(er)者相斗,帝(di)(di)終(zhong)斷刑(xing)(xing)天首(shou)級,并把他葬(zang)于常羊(yang)(yang)之山(shan)。但刑(xing)(xing)天魂魄不滅,竟以(yi)乳為(wei)(wei)目、臍為(wei)(wei)口,手執干戈漫舞(wu)。晉·陶淵明《讀山(shan)海(hai)經(jing)(jing)十三首(shou)》有云(yun):“精衛銜微木(mu),將以(yi)填滄(cang)海(hai)。刑(xing)(xing)天舞(wu)干戚(qi),猛(meng)志固常在。同物既(ji)無類(有的版本是“同物既(ji)無慮”),化去不復悔(hui)。徒設在昔心,良辰詎可待!”
刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)是山海(hai)經(jing)里提(ti)到的(de)一位(wei)無頭(tou)巨(ju)人,原(yuan)是炎帝(di)的(de)手(shou)(shou)(shou)下。自炎帝(di)被黃帝(di)在(zai)阪泉(quan)之(zhi)戰(zhan)(zhan)打敗(bai)之(zhi)后(hou),刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)便跟隨(sui)在(zai)炎帝(di)身(shen)(shen)邊,定居在(zai)南方。當(dang)(dang)(dang)時,蚩尤(you)起兵(bing)復仇,卻被黃帝(di)鏟平,因而(er)(er)身(shen)(shen)首(shou)異(yi)處,刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)一怒(nu)之(zhi)下便手(shou)(shou)(shou)拿著利斧,殺到天(tian)(tian)(tian)庭中央的(de)南天(tian)(tian)(tian)門外,指名要與(yu)黃帝(di)單挑獨(du)斗(dou)。最后(hou)刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)不敵(di),被黃帝(di)斬去(qu)頭(tou)顱(lu)。而(er)(er)沒了頭(tou)的(de)刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)并沒有因此死去(qu),而(er)(er)是重新站了起來,并把胸前的(de)兩個乳頭(tou)當(dang)(dang)(dang)作(zuo)眼睛(jing),把肚(du)臍(qi)當(dang)(dang)(dang)作(zuo)嘴巴(ba);左(zuo)手(shou)(shou)(shou)握(wo)盾,右手(shou)(shou)(shou)拿斧。因為沒了頭(tou)顱(lu),所以(yi)他只能(neng)永(yong)遠(yuan)的(de)與(yu)看不見(jian)的(de)敵(di)人廝(si)殺,永(yong)遠(yuan)的(de)戰(zhan)(zhan)斗(dou)。而(er)(er)在(zai)陶淵(yuan)明(ming)的(de)《讀山海(hai)經(jing)》中有:“精衛銜微木(mu),將以(yi)填滄海(hai)。刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)舞干戚,猛志固常在(zai)。同物既無類(lei),化(hua)去(qu)不復悔。徒(tu)設在(zai)昔心,良辰(chen)詎可待!”來贊頌刑(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)的(de)精神(shen)。
干(gan)(盾)和戚(大斧)。