刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)國古代神話傳說中(zhong)的人(ren)物。刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)原(yuan)是(shi)(shi)一個(ge)無(wu)名(ming)的巨人(ren),因和黃帝(di)爭神座,被(bei)黃帝(di)砍掉(diao)了腦(nao)袋。“刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)”這個(ge)名(ming)字的意(yi)思就是(shi)(shi):天(tian)者,顛也(ye);刑(xing)(xing)者,戮(lu)也(ye)。天(tian)就是(shi)(shi)天(tian)帝(di),“刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)”就表(biao)示(shi)誓(shi)戮(lu)天(tian)帝(di)以(yi)復(fu)仇(chou)。
刑天斷(duan)首(shou)的故事出自《山海(hai)經·海(hai)外西(xi)經》。
《山海經.校注》云:“刑(xing)天(tian)與(yu)帝爭(zheng)神。帝斷其(qi)首,葬于常羊之(zhi)野。乃以(yi)乳為目,以(yi)臍(qi)為口,操(cao)干(gan)戚而舞。”
刑(xing)天與帝(di)(di)至此(ci)爭神,帝(di)(di)斷其首,葬之(zhi)常羊之(zhi)山(shan)(shan),乃以乳為(wei)目(mu),以臍為(wei)口,操干(gan)戚(qi)(qi)以舞(wu)。”乃出于東(dong)周(zhou)的《山(shan)(shan)海(hai)經.海(hai)外西經》。話說刑(xing)天與天帝(di)(di)(黃帝(di)(di))爭奪神位(wei)寶座。二者相斗(dou),帝(di)(di)終(zhong)斷刑(xing)天首級,并把他葬于常羊之(zhi)山(shan)(shan)。但刑(xing)天魂魄(po)不滅,竟以乳為(wei)目(mu)、臍為(wei)口,手執干(gan)戈漫舞(wu)。晉(jin)·陶淵(yuan)明《讀山(shan)(shan)海(hai)經十三首》有云(yun):“精(jing)衛(wei)銜微木(mu),將以填(tian)滄海(hai)。刑(xing)天舞(wu)干(gan)戚(qi)(qi),猛志(zhi)固(gu)常在。同(tong)(tong)物既無類(有的版本(ben)是(shi)“同(tong)(tong)物既無慮”),化去不復悔(hui)。徒設在昔心,良辰詎(ju)可待!”
刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)是山海(hai)經里提到(dao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)一位無(wu)頭(tou)巨(ju)人(ren),原(yuan)是炎(yan)帝(di)的(de)(de)(de)(de)手(shou)(shou)下(xia)。自炎(yan)帝(di)被黃帝(di)在阪泉之(zhi)戰打敗之(zhi)后(hou),刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)便跟(gen)隨在炎(yan)帝(di)身邊,定居在南方。當(dang)時,蚩尤起(qi)兵復(fu)仇(chou),卻(que)被黃帝(di)鏟(chan)平,因(yin)而身首異處,刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)一怒之(zhi)下(xia)便手(shou)(shou)拿著利(li)斧(fu),殺到(dao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)庭中央的(de)(de)(de)(de)南天(tian)(tian)(tian)門外,指名要與黃帝(di)單挑獨斗。最(zui)后(hou)刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)不敵,被黃帝(di)斬(zhan)去頭(tou)顱。而沒了頭(tou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)并(bing)沒有因(yin)此死去,而是重新(xin)站了起(qi)來,并(bing)把(ba)胸前(qian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兩(liang)個乳頭(tou)當(dang)作眼(yan)睛(jing),把(ba)肚臍當(dang)作嘴(zui)巴;左手(shou)(shou)握盾,右手(shou)(shou)拿斧(fu)。因(yin)為沒了頭(tou)顱,所以他只(zhi)能(neng)永(yong)遠(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)與看不見的(de)(de)(de)(de)敵人(ren)廝殺,永(yong)遠(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)戰斗。而在陶(tao)淵明的(de)(de)(de)(de)《讀(du)山海(hai)經》中有:“精(jing)衛銜(xian)微木,將以填(tian)滄(cang)海(hai)。刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)舞干戚,猛志固(gu)常在。同(tong)物既無(wu)類,化(hua)去不復(fu)悔。徒(tu)設在昔(xi)心,良辰詎可待!”來贊頌刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)精(jing)神。
干(盾)和戚(qi)(大斧(fu))。