晚明人痘法起源及其傳播的再思考

Rethinking the Origin of Variolation and Its Spread in Ming-Qing China

本文討論與人痘接種法起源有關的三個問題。首先，要特別指出的是，「種痘」二字，在明代主要是指得天花、出天花或天花流行，與接種人痘並無關係。清代以後，「種痘」二字才逐漸與接種人痘產生關連，若以清代的詞意套用在明代，顯然犯了望文生義的謬誤。其次，人痘接種法出現時，被稱為「神痘」，意指「神丹種痘」或「神授種痘」。現存史料首次確切記載這種醫術，可以追溯至天啟五年（1625）或六年的湖廣衡州府。天啟六年，神痘法東傳至江西，崇禎年間（1627－1644）傳至安徽及江南等地。清初傳播範圍更廣，大部分仍稱之為神痘法，但其於神話傳說中的起源地四川，在明末清初反而未見記載。其三，明末衡州府有所謂神痘教，崇拜的是金花聖母，正是其陪伴著許多醫生，將神痘法傳往他鄉。在其傳播過程中，金花聖母曾出現在湖北、江西、安徽、浙江及陝西等地。而關於峨眉山神醫傳授神痘法的神話，最早的原型也是金花聖母。歸結來說，「種痘」並非考證上最佳的關鍵詞，而「神痘」與「金花聖母」才是探究人痘接種法起源的終極密碼。

This article aims to address three issues related to variolation. First, the term “zhong dou” referred to a contraction or an epidemic of smallpox in the Ming dynasty, rather than variolation. The term “zhong dou” did not take on the meaning of variolation until the Qing dynasty. Therefore, it would be a mistake to take the words too literally and to interpret “zhong dou” in Ming-Dynasty literature with a Qing dynasty connotation. Second, when variolation first appeared, it was dubbed “shen dou,” meaning “variolation with gods’ medicine” or “variolation method taught by gods.” Description of the medical technology first appeared in historical document in 1625 or 1626 in Hengzhoufu of the Huguang province. The gods’ variolation method spread to Jiangxi in 1626, to Anhui and the Jiangnan areas during the Chongzhen era (1627-1644). It spread to an even wider region in the early Qing dynasty, and the term “shen dou” was widely used. Legend has it that “shen dou” originated in Sichuan; however, no record in the historical documents of the late Ming dynasty and the early Qing dynasty indicate that the legend was true. Third, in the late Ming dynasty, “shen dou” religion appeared in Hengzhoufu, which worshipped the “jin hua sheng mu (golden flower goddess).” The goddess was said to have accompanied many doctors to teach the variolation method in faraway places. “Jin hua sheng mu” was actually three goddesses and had appeared in Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Shaanxi. The legend of a miracle-working doctor in Mount Emei, who taught “shen dou”, originated from the legend of “jin hua sheng mu.” In conclusion, the term “zhong dou” is not the best key word in researching the subject. Instead, terms such as “shen dou” and “jin hua sheng mu” are the ultimate code for probing the origin of smallpox variolation.