「道」的異稱及其義涵衍化──「一」與「亙」

Synonyms of “Tao” and their Derivative Implications- The “One” and “Permanence”

作為道家哲學之源，《老子》由「道」所衍生出來的各種哲學觀念，普遍而廣大地瀰漫滲透到中國哲學的許多角落。就其在後世受到較大推闡與開展的幾個衍生概念──「一」、「常」、「恆」看來，大致上還是圍繞著《老子》生成與事物核心依據兩義在發展，而特重生成始源與循環往復兩種觀念。而「常」在出土本《老子》原本有特殊哲學義涵，與「恆」截然不同，傳世本將它們弄混了，「常」的哲學義涵因此逐漸被淡化、忽略，而「恆」也因此有了與「道」類近的始源義涵。從玄學的角度看，《老子》哲學高深玄妙之義或因此略有變質。其實，這正是《老子》哲學生命得以不斷延續再生的展現。

As a source of Taoism, various philosophical concepts were derived from “Tao” in the Book of Laozi - Tao Te Ching and were disseminated in many sects of Chinese philosophies for centuries. Among those studied and expounded most popularly, the derivative concepts such as “Yi” (one), “Chang” (constancy) and “Heng” (permanence) mainly surrounded two implications; that is, the origin of creation and recurrence. However, the concept of “Chang” (constancy), according to the manuscript Tao Te Ching unearthed recently, had specific philosophical implication that was distinct from the denotation of “Heng” (permanence). The handed down editions in later generations had confused the meanings of the two. Therefore, the original connotation of “Heng” (permanence) became similar to that of “Tao”. From metaphysical point of view, the subtle and profound explanation of Tao Te Ching had minor qualitative change due to such derivation. As a matter of fact, this also showed the continuous and regenerative development of the philosophy of Laozi.