北大秦簡〈魯久次問數於陳起〉補說──兼論中國古代看待「數」之兩類觀點

A Supplement to“Lu Jiuci Asks Chen Qi about Numbers”on the Qin Bamboo Slips Collected by Peking University: Accompanied by a Discussion of Two Views on“Numbers”in Ancient China

〈魯久次問數於陳起〉是北京大學藏秦簡牘數學文獻中的一篇，本篇以問對的形式，闡述有關數學的學習方法、起源、功用、重要性等議題，內容罕有、內涵多元，對於中國古代數學思想、數學方法、數學史理論、乃至疾病、醫學、數術、音律、宇宙模型、建築工程等諸多方面的研究，皆具有重要的學術意義和價值。北大秦簡〈魯久次問數於陳起〉全篇以魯久次與陳起的問答構成，共三問三答，本文將先依問答次序分三節探討，針對篇中尚待補論的字句作進一步地析論、釋讀，並附帶辨析有關中國早期思維的議題，所探討的問題分別為：「數可語也，語不可數也」的意涵、「百體之樹」與數的關聯、「百體之痈」的「痈」字釋讀、「色契羨杼」的釋讀、「命而毀之」等句的理解與韻文口訣。篇末則結合〈魯久次問數於陳起〉與相關文獻，探論中國古代看待「數」之兩類觀點，以及與其相關之秦焚書對象等問題。〈魯久次問數於陳起〉的內容涉及文、理之爭，閱讀本篇，鑑古觀今，對於理解中國古代思維、思考科學與迷信的畛域，應有啟迪的作用。

“Lu Jiuci Asks Chen Qi about Numbers”is one of the mathematical documents from the Qin Bamboo slips collected by Peking University. The text uses a question-and-answer format to explain how mathematics is learned as well as describe its origins, functions, and importance. This is a rare and diverse text that is of great value to the study of ancient Chinese mathematical thought, mathematical methods, mathematical history and theory, as well as diseases, medicine, divination, tones, cosmic models, and architectural engineering. This article is divided into three sections, which correspond to the three questions and answers found in“Lu Jiuci Asks Chen Qi about Numbers.”The aim of the article is to analyze and interpret the words and phrases in the text that have yet to be thoroughly studied as well as to identify issues related to early Chinese thought. At the end of the article, we discuss two types of views on“numbers”in ancient China, as well as issues related to the Qin dynasty’s book burning. The content of“Lu Jiuci Asks Chen Qi about Numbers”involves the debate between literature and science. Reading this text, in light of the past and the present, sheds light on ancient Chinese thinking about the boundary between science and superstition.