昆侖山被視為上古世界的中心,是神祇與秩序的象徵。
Mount Kunlun is seen as the sacred center of the world and a dwelling place of gods.
在《山海經》的宇宙觀中,昆侖山被視為世界的核心與神聖之地,它不僅是一座山,更是一個連接天地的中心軸。與其他山脈相比,昆侖山具有明顯的神聖性,它被描述為眾神居住之所,是天地秩序的象徵。這種「中心之山」的概念,在許多古代文化中皆可見,而在中國神話中,昆侖山則承擔了這一角色,成為世界結構的支點。據傳,昆侖山是西王母的居所,這使其不僅是地理中心,更是神權與不死象徵的所在,許多關於長生與仙境的想像,皆與此地相關。在《山海經》的描述中,昆侖山周圍環繞奇異景象與神獸,使其成為一個超越人間的空間,既可被接近,又難以真正抵達,這種設定強化了其神聖與遙不可及的特質。從象徵角度來看,昆侖山代表的是秩序與穩定,是世界的「中心點」,與邊界地帶形成對比,它提供了一個參照,使整個世界得以被理解與定位。在文化層面上,昆侖山也反映出古人對「中心」的想像,這種中心不一定是地理上的,而是意義上的,是所有秩序與權威的來源。在現代視角下,昆侖山可以被理解為一種宇宙結構的象徵,它代表人類試圖為世界建立一個穩定核心的努力,使混亂的世界有一個可以依附的中心。《山海經》透過昆侖山的描寫,構建出一個有中心、有邊界的世界,使整體宇宙既有層次,也有方向。
(下一集預告:005 不周山)
English Version
In the cosmological vision of Shan Hai Jing, Mount Kunlun is regarded as the center of the world and a sacred axis that connects heaven and earth. Unlike ordinary mountains, it is imbued with divine significance and is often described as the dwelling place of gods. This idea of a “central mountain” is not unique to Chinese mythology, but Kunlun serves as one of its most prominent expressions. It is closely associated with the Queen Mother of the West, linking it to themes of immortality, divine authority, and transcendence. The surrounding landscape is often depicted as extraordinary, filled with mythical creatures and surreal environments, reinforcing its status as a place beyond ordinary human reach. Symbolically, Mount Kunlun represents order, stability, and centrality. It acts as a reference point that gives structure to the entire world, standing in contrast to the chaotic and unknown regions described elsewhere in the text. From a cultural perspective, it reflects the human desire to define a center—a point from which meaning and authority radiate. This center is not necessarily geographical but conceptual, serving as an anchor for understanding the world. In modern interpretation, Mount Kunlun can be seen as a symbolic representation of the human need to impose structure on complexity, to create a stable core within an unpredictable universe. Through its depiction, Shan Hai Jing constructs a world that is both hierarchical and interconnected, where the idea of a center provides coherence to the whole.
(Next Episode: Mount Buzhou)
