刑(xing)天(tian)是中國古代神(shen)話(hua)傳說中的人物。刑(xing)天(tian)原是一個無名的巨(ju)人,因和(he)黃(huang)(huang)帝爭神(shen)座,被黃(huang)(huang)帝砍掉了腦袋。“刑(xing)天(tian)”這個名字的意思就(jiu)是:天(tian)者,顛也(ye);刑(xing)者,戮也(ye)。天(tian)就(jiu)是天(tian)帝,“刑(xing)天(tian)”就(jiu)表示誓戮天(tian)帝以(yi)復仇。
刑天斷(duan)首的故事出自《山海(hai)經(jing)·海(hai)外西(xi)經(jing)》。
《山海經.校注》云:“刑天與帝(di)爭神。帝(di)斷其首,葬于常羊之(zhi)野。乃以乳為目,以臍(qi)為口,操干戚而舞。”
刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)與(yu)帝至(zhi)此爭神,帝斷其首,葬(zang)之(zhi)常羊(yang)之(zhi)山,乃以(yi)乳為(wei)目(mu),以(yi)臍為(wei)口,操(cao)干(gan)戚(qi)以(yi)舞(wu)。”乃出(chu)于(yu)東周的(de)(de)《山海(hai)(hai)經(jing).海(hai)(hai)外西(xi)經(jing)》。話說刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)與(yu)天(tian)(tian)帝(黃帝)爭奪神位寶座。二者相斗,帝終斷刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)首級,并把他葬(zang)于(yu)常羊(yang)之(zhi)山。但(dan)刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)魂魄不(bu)(bu)滅,竟以(yi)乳為(wei)目(mu)、臍為(wei)口,手執干(gan)戈漫(man)舞(wu)。晉(jin)·陶(tao)淵明《讀山海(hai)(hai)經(jing)十(shi)三首》有云(yun):“精衛(wei)銜微木,將以(yi)填(tian)滄(cang)海(hai)(hai)。刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)舞(wu)干(gan)戚(qi),猛志固常在。同物(wu)既(ji)無類(lei)(有的(de)(de)版(ban)本是“同物(wu)既(ji)無慮(lv)”),化去不(bu)(bu)復悔。徒設(she)在昔心,良辰(chen)詎可待(dai)!”
刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)是山海(hai)經里提到的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一位無頭(tou)(tou)巨人(ren),原是炎(yan)帝(di)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)手(shou)下。自炎(yan)帝(di)被(bei)(bei)黃帝(di)在(zai)(zai)阪泉之(zhi)戰打敗之(zhi)后,刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)便跟隨在(zai)(zai)炎(yan)帝(di)身邊,定居在(zai)(zai)南方。當(dang)時,蚩尤(you)起(qi)兵復仇,卻被(bei)(bei)黃帝(di)鏟(chan)平(ping),因而身首(shou)異處,刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)一怒之(zhi)下便手(shou)拿著利斧(fu),殺到天(tian)(tian)庭中央的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)南天(tian)(tian)門外,指名(ming)要與黃帝(di)單挑獨斗。最后刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)不敵(di),被(bei)(bei)黃帝(di)斬去(qu)頭(tou)(tou)顱(lu)。而沒了(le)(le)頭(tou)(tou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)并(bing)沒有(you)因此(ci)死去(qu),而是重新站了(le)(le)起(qi)來(lai),并(bing)把(ba)胸前的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)兩個乳頭(tou)(tou)當(dang)作(zuo)眼睛,把(ba)肚(du)臍當(dang)作(zuo)嘴巴(ba);左手(shou)握盾(dun),右手(shou)拿斧(fu)。因為沒了(le)(le)頭(tou)(tou)顱(lu),所(suo)以他只能永(yong)(yong)遠的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)與看(kan)不見的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)敵(di)人(ren)廝殺,永(yong)(yong)遠的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)戰斗。而在(zai)(zai)陶淵明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)《讀山海(hai)經》中有(you):“精(jing)(jing)衛(wei)銜(xian)微木,將以填滄海(hai)。刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)舞干戚,猛志固常在(zai)(zai)。同物既無類,化去(qu)不復悔。徒設在(zai)(zai)昔心,良辰詎可待!”來(lai)贊頌刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)精(jing)(jing)神。
干(盾)和戚(大斧)。