中國史前文化中的八角星圖案初探

The Octagonal-Star Image of Prehistorical China: A Preliminary Exploration

八角星圖案的基本形制為中部有一個封閉的心，圍繞著中心向周邊伸出八個呈放射狀的銳角，是一種主要見於陶器表面的圖案或紋樣。八角星圖案的分佈範圍包括了長江、淮河、黃河、遼河流域在內的大半個中國，其中主要集中在兩個區域：一是從泰沂山經淮河、長江到太湖東側一帶，南北基本連成一片；二是洞庭湖周邊及沅水流域。其他地區則屬於零星發現。八角星圖案可以劃分為兩大類：A類是中心部分為方框，方框的每一邊上有兩兩相對而外伸的直角三角形，即直角邊在外側，斜邊相對，整體上分佈得對稱而不均勻，是典型的八角星圖案；B類是中心部分為圓形，圓邊上等距或基本等距分佈著八個外伸的銳角，像放射的光芒狀。目前所發現的A類八角星圖案，年代最早的出自長江中游的湖南湯家崗遺址，在距今6000年之前。然後是從黃淮下游的海岱地區到太湖地區，年代約在距今6000～5000年之間，其他地區的發現時代更晚。B類八角星圖案的年代跨度較大。這類圖案年代最早的是湖南沅水流域的高廟文化，絕對年代在距今7000年前後甚至更早，其他地區的發現則均在距今6000年以內。A、B兩類儘管都稱為八角星圖案，實際上他們之間的差別大於共性，本質上應屬於兩種不同的圖案。A類八角星圖案與太陽圖案是兩類不同性質的圖案，相互之間不存在內在聯繫。B類八角星圖案則有表示太陽的寓意。關於A類八角星圖案的含義，目前存在多種不同的解釋。本文傾向於認為其體現了先人天圓地方的概念，並用於祭祀和禮儀活動。

The octagonal-star image had been a kind of icon or décor mainly found on the surface of Neolithic pottery. The basic form of octagonal-star had a closure heart, surrounding with eight protruding and radial angles. Their distributions area exceeded half of China, including the basins of Yangtze River, Huai River, Yellow River and Liao River, whose coverage was concentrated in two regions: firstly, the area from Tai Mountain, passing Huai River, Yangtze River to the east side of Tai Lake; secondly, the area surrounding Dongting Lake and Yuanshui River basin. However, octagonal-star icons in other areas were found to be scattered and random. In addition, the octagonal-star image can be separated into two classes: class A with core of a square frame on each side had relative extension of the right triangle was the typical octagonal-star pattern; class B had a core of a round form on its circumference edge with equidistant distribution of the eight basic acute angles, resembling light radiating from the Sun. According to the current discoveries, the earliest type A pattern was found at the middle basin of Yangtze river, in Tanjiagan sites in Hunan province, and could be dated before 6000 years ago. Later, it was also found in the Haidai region and Tai Lake region, between 6000 to 5000 years B.P.. As for the time period in which type A pattern was found in other regions was much later. The duration of type B patterns spaned longer than A. The earliest type B icon of the current discoveries were situated at Yuan river basin in Hunan province, the so called Gaoumiau Culture, and its absolute chronology could be dated to 7000 years ago or even earlier. However, the type B pattern in the other areas was not earlier than 6000 years ago. Although type A and B were called 'octagonal-star image,' they had more differences than similarities. In essence, they should belong to two different icons. The type B octagonal-star pattern symbolized the sun icon, whereas the meaning of type A requireed more complicated alternative explanations. My article inclined to think that type A represented the Chinese ancestors' ancient idea of 'round sky and square earth' used in ceremonial activities and rituals.