古代人名中的“之”
唐(tang)代(dai)有一(yi)個著名(ming)詩(shi)人叫王(wang)之(zhi)渙,他(ta)那首“黃河(he)遠上(shang)白(bai)云間”的《涼州詞》極有名(ming)。但唐(tang)人薛(xue)用弱《集異記》把王(wang)之(zhi)渙寫成“王(wang)渙之(zhi)”,也(ye)有的寫成“王(wang)奐”。到底這位詩(shi)人的名(ming)字(zi)中有無“之(zhi)”字(zi),是“之(zhi)渙”還(huan)是“渙之(zhi)”,頗引得文(wen)學研究者爭論不休(xiu)。
再如晉代書(shu)法(fa)家王羲之(zhi)(zhi),諸子七人(ren)分(fen)別名(ming)為(wei)獻之(zhi)(zhi)、凝之(zhi)(zhi)、操之(zhi)(zhi)等,全帶(dai)“之(zhi)(zhi)”。不僅(jin)如此,其孫輩以下也有很多(duo)人(ren)名(ming)中(zhong)也有“之(zhi)(zhi)”。據研究(jiu)者統計(ji),羲之(zhi)(zhi)家族五輩人(ren)中(zhong)共(gong)有七十(shi)二人(ren)名(ming)字中(zhong)帶(dai)“之(zhi)(zhi)”。這在(zai)重(zhong)避(bi)諱的(de)古代社會(hui),是很難理解的(de)。
一位著名(ming)史學家認(ren)為,王氏家族信道教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao),“之(zhi)”是道教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)的(de)標志。此說(shuo)不(bu)確。事實上(shang),早(zao)在(zai)道教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)產(chan)生之(zhi)前的(de)先秦時代,人名(ming)中就(jiu)多(duo)有帶“之(zhi)”“施”之(zhi)類語(yu)辭者。如春秋(qiu)有名(ming)曰“介之(zhi)推(tui)”者,《左(zuo)傳(chuan)》僖(xi)公(gong)二十四年:“晉侯賞從亡(wang)者,介之(zhi)推(tui)不(bu)言祿(lu),祿(lu)亦弗及。”其(qi)他如《論語(yu)》將(jiang)“孟反”寫(xie)成(cheng)“孟之(zhi)反”,《孟子》將(jiang)“孟舍(she)”寫(xie)成(cheng)“孟施舍(she)”。
漢(han)代以(yi)后依然如(ru)此。如(ru)漢(han)代有(you)個農學(xue)家叫(jiao)氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)之(zhi),他(ta)寫了我國古代第一(yi)本農書(shu)(shu)《氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)之(zhi)書(shu)(shu)》。《漢(han)書(shu)(shu)·藝文志(zhi)》農家記為“氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)之(zhi)十八篇”。但后人(ren)引用,多作(zuo)“氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)”而略“之(zhi)”字。如(ru)唐人(ren)賈公(gong)彥“漢(han)時農書(shu)(shu)有(you)數家,氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)為上”,宋人(ren)《郡齋(zhai)讀(du)書(shu)(shu)志(zhi)》“采氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)種樹(shu)之(zhi)書(shu)(shu)”。王(wang)(wang)羲之(zhi)家族(zu)諸(zhu)帶“之(zhi)”者,“之(zhi)”也都可以(yi)省(sheng)略,如(ru)王(wang)(wang)獻(xian)之(zhi)又(you)稱王(wang)(wang)獻(xian)(《初學(xue)記》),王(wang)(wang)彪(biao)之(zhi)又(you)稱王(wang)(wang)彪(biao)(《太(tai)平(ping)御覽》引),王(wang)(wang)悅(yue)之(zhi)又(you)作(zuo)王(wang)(wang)悅(yue)(《宋書(shu)(shu)》)等。類似(si)例子不勝(sheng)(sheng)枚舉。
那么,古代人名中的“之”字何以(yi)有(you)加(jia)有(you)不加(jia),這個“之”字究竟起什么作(zuo)用(yong)?
其(qi)實(shi)古(gu)人(ren)早有解(jie)釋。如漢趙(zhao)岐注《孟子(zi)》云:“孟,姓;舍,名;施(shi),發音(yin)也。施(shi)舍自言其(qi)名,則但曰舍。”晉人(ren)杜預注《左傳》云:“介推,文公微臣。之(zhi)(zhi),語(yu)(yu)助。”這里說的“語(yu)(yu)助”“發音(yin)”都是指(zhi)“意(yi)內而言外”(許慎語(yu)(yu))之(zhi)(zhi)“詞”,它(ta)是只(zhi)在書面語(yu)(yu)出現而口語(yu)(yu)中并不存在的“非(fei)口語(yu)(yu)成分”。也就(jiu)是說,口語(yu)(yu)中的人(ren)名,是沒有“之(zhi)(zhi)”的,帶“之(zhi)(zhi)”的只(zhi)是書面語(yu)(yu)寫法。
在(zai)(zai)書面(mian)語閱讀(du)時(shi),這個(ge)“之(zhi)(zhi)”字可以讀(du)出來(lai),此之(zhi)(zhi)謂(wei)“發音”,又稱“發聲”。至于“之(zhi)(zhi)”于書面(mian)語有加有不加,主要(yao)根據作者行(xing)文的(de)需要(yao)而(er)定。南(nan)齊(qi)著名文學家顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)之(zhi)(zhi),在(zai)(zai)蕭(xiao)子顯(xian)的(de)《南(nan)齊(qi)書·文學傳論》中兩次只稱“顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”:“張眎擿句褒貶,顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)圖寫情興。”“顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)《楊瓚》,自比《馬督》。”鐘(zhong)嶸(rong)《詩品》序亦(yi)如是:“顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)論文,精而(er)難曉。”這幾處只寫“顏(yan)(yan)延(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”而(er)略“之(zhi)(zhi)”字,就是為(wei)了前(qian)后對仗的(de)需要(yao)。
“之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)”字除了可(ke)(ke)加(jia)(jia)可(ke)(ke)不(bu)加(jia)(jia),也(ye)可(ke)(ke)顛(dian)倒(dao)位置(zhi)。如《顏(yan)氏家(jia)訓》的作者(zhe)顏(yan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)推(tui),亦作顏(yan)推(tui)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),其實他的名字在口(kou)語(yu)(yu)中(zhong)只“顏(yan)推(tui)”二字而已。王獻(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)口(kou)語(yu)(yu)中(zhong)稱王獻(xian)(xian),書面語(yu)(yu)中(zhong)也(ye)稱“王之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)獻(xian)(xian)”。唐《張節(jie)墓志(zhi)》中(zhong)有“王之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)獻(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)竹,列在池亭; 陶淵明之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)柳(liu),蒔于門徑”之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)語(yu)(yu),前一句是引羲之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、獻(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)合(he)書“鵝池”的典故(gu)。此處“獻(xian)(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)”倒(dao)為“之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)獻(xian)(xian)”,也(ye)是修辭的需要(yao),以(yi)避“之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)”連(lian)用。
楊伯峻先生對此(ci)有一個看法:“‘介(jie)之(zhi)(zhi)推(tui)’本名‘介(jie)推(tui)’,‘之(zhi)(zhi)’字是(shi)加(jia)(jia)(jia)進(jin)去(qu)(qu)的(de)。《孟子》之(zhi)(zhi)‘孟施舍(she)’本名孟舍(she),‘施’字是(shi)加(jia)(jia)(jia)進(jin)去(qu)(qu)的(de)。在(zai)(zai)古人(ren)說(shuo)話或行文(wen)的(de)時候,為圖語句的(de)整齊,聲(sheng)音的(de)節奏,可以(yi)加(jia)(jia)(jia)一個不相干的(de)字到句中去(qu)(qu)。”這種(zhong)理解是(shi)正確的(de)。古人(ren)讀(du)(du)書(shu)謂之(zhi)(zhi)“誦”,也就是(shi)有節奏地朗讀(du)(du),詩歌如此(ci),散(san)文(wen)亦如此(ci)。但口語是(shi)不講節奏的(de),故(gu)文(wen)人(ren)為文(wen),必須在(zai)(zai)口語中加(jia)(jia)(jia)入虛(xu)字,以(yi)求語句整齊,產生節奏感。“之(zhi)(zhi)”就是(shi)最常用(yong)的(de)虛(xu)字,它在(zai)(zai)句中只(zhi)起音節作用(yong),并無實義。
不(bu)(bu)(bu)但(dan)(dan)人名(ming)(ming)如(ru)此,一些山(shan)(shan)(shan)水地(di)名(ming)(ming)在書(shu)寫時也可加“之(zhi)(zhi)”,但(dan)(dan)口(kou)語中(zhong)則沒有“之(zhi)(zhi)”。如(ru)《山(shan)(shan)(shan)海經·大荒(huang)西經》:“西北海外,大荒(huang)之(zhi)(zhi)隅,有山(shan)(shan)(shan)而(er)不(bu)(bu)(bu)合,名(ming)(ming)曰不(bu)(bu)(bu)周(zhou)。”可見(jian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)的名(ming)(ming)字(zi)是(shi)“不(bu)(bu)(bu)周(zhou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”。但(dan)(dan)同(tong)書(shu)《西山(shan)(shan)(shan)經》又加了個“之(zhi)(zhi)”,稱“又西北三(san)百七十里曰不(bu)(bu)(bu)周(zhou)之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”。后來《淮(huai)南子·天文訓》亦稱“昔者(zhe)共工與顓頊爭為帝,怒而(er)觸不(bu)(bu)(bu)周(zhou)之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。”除“不(bu)(bu)(bu)周(zhou)之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,《山(shan)(shan)(shan)海經》中(zhong)還有“招(zhao)搖之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”“岳(yue)崇(chong)之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”“箕尾之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”“青(qing)丘之(zhi)(zhi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”等山(shan)(shan)(shan)名(ming)(ming),都是(shi)書(shu)面語寫法,口(kou)語中(zhong)皆無“之(zhi)(zhi)”字(zi)。
現代(dai)學者大(da)多把“之(zhi)”理解為結構(gou)助詞“的(de)”,“不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之(zhi)山(shan)”似(si)乎就是(shi)(shi)“(叫)不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)山(shan)”,而“不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)山(shan)”就是(shi)(shi)“不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之(zhi)山(shan)”的(de)省稱。其實(shi)誤矣。“不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)山(shan)”不(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)“不(bu)(bu)周(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之(zhi)山(shan)”的(de)省略(lve),口語中的(de)山(shan)名是(shi)(shi)沒有“之(zhi)”的(de)。不(bu)(bu)但古代(dai)如此(ci),現代(dai)依然如此(ci)。地名如此(ci),山(shan)水名亦如此(ci)。因為地名、山(shan)水名是(shi)(shi)天下百姓口語中的(de)日常用語,所以不(bu)(bu)可(ke)能有只用于書(shu)面語的(de)“之(zhi)”字(zi)。
北(bei)京“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)門(men)”本稱(cheng)(cheng)“承天(tian)門(men)”,清順治八年(nian)重建后改稱(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)門(men),城樓上懸掛(gua)的木匾卻寫著(zhu)“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)之(zhi)門(men)”。研究(jiu)者幾乎都認為(wei)(wei)“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)之(zhi)門(men)”是(shi)(shi)(shi)正式名稱(cheng)(cheng),而(er)“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)門(men)”是(shi)(shi)(shi)“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)之(zhi)門(men)”的簡稱(cheng)(cheng)。其(qi)實,“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)之(zhi)門(men)”只是(shi)(shi)(shi)“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)門(men)”的書面寫法而(er)已,“天(tian)安(an)(an)(an)(an)(an)門(men)”才(cai)是(shi)(shi)(shi)正名。
無獨有(you)偶,宋代(dai)開(kai)封的(de)(de)朱(zhu)雀(que)門上(shang)面的(de)(de)匾額(e)上(shang)寫著“朱(zhu)雀(que)之(zhi)門”,曾引起宋太祖的(de)(de)納悶(men),問人(ren)(ren):“那(nei)個‘之(zhi)’有(you)什(shen)么用?”他不明(ming)白百姓口語(yu)中的(de)(de)“朱(zhu)雀(que)門”為(wei)什(shen)么多了(le)個“之(zhi)”字。對(dui)這個問題,不但(dan)武人(ren)(ren)出身(shen)的(de)(de)趙(zhao)匡胤不懂,有(you)些文人(ren)(ren)也(ye)不理解(jie)(jie)。朱(zhu)熹(xi)《四(si)書集注(zhu)》引趙(zhao)岐注(zhu),謂“孟施舍(she)(she),施是發語(yu)聲”,他的(de)(de)門徒就提出疑(yi)問:“有(you)何例可(ke)按?”朱(zhu)熹(xi)回答說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)(shuo):“此是古(gu)注(zhu)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)(shuo),后面只(zhi)(zhi)稱‘舍(she)(she)’可(ke)見(jian)。”并舉例說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)(shuo):“如孟之(zhi)反、舟之(zhi)僑、尹(yin)公之(zhi)他之(zhi)類。”惜朱(zhu)子(zi)只(zhi)(zhi)云“古(gu)注(zhu)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)”并舉出幾個先秦(qin)人(ren)(ren)名的(de)(de)例子(zi)為(wei)證,但(dan)對(dui)“之(zhi)”究(jiu)竟起到什(shen)么作用,并沒解(jie)(jie)釋(shi)清(qing)楚。由此可(ke)見(jian),對(dui)古(gu)代(dai)人(ren)(ren)名中“之(zhi)”字的(de)(de)“足句”功能,宋代(dai)已有(you)人(ren)(ren)漸漸不理解(jie)(jie)了(le)。
□孟昭連




