夔(kuí)是(shi)古(gu)代中(zhong)(zhong)國神(shen)話傳(chuan)(chuan)說中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)一(yi)(yi)條腿(tui)的(de)怪(guai)物。《山(shan)海(hai)(hai)(hai)經(jing)·大荒經(jing)》記(ji)載:東海(hai)(hai)(hai)中(zhong)(zhong)有流波山(shan),入海(hai)(hai)(hai)七千里(li)。其上有獸,狀如牛(niu),蒼身而(er)無角,一(yi)(yi)足,出入水則必風雨,其光如日月,其聲(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)如雷,其名曰夔。黃帝(di)得(de)之(zhi),以(yi)其皮(pi)(pi)為鼓,橛以(yi)雷獸之(zhi)骨,聲(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)聞(wen)五(wu)百里(li),以(yi)威天下。(譯(yi)文(wen):夔牛(niu)是(shi)古(gu)時代神(shen)獸,古(gu)時生于東海(hai)(hai)(hai)流波山(shan),形狀似牛(niu),全身都(dou)是(shi)青色的(de),沒有長(chang)角,只長(chang)了一(yi)(yi)只腳,每次出現(xian)都(dou)會(hui)有狂風暴雨。它(ta)身上還閃耀著光芒,似日光和(he)月光,它(ta)的(de)吼聲(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)和(he)雷聲(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)一(yi)(yi)樣(yang)震耳欲(yu)聾。后來黃帝(di)得(de)到這種獸,用(yong)它(ta)的(de)皮(pi)(pi)制(zhi)成(cheng)鼓并用(yong)雷獸的(de)骨做槌,敲擊鼓,鼓聲(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)響徹五(wu)百里(li)之(zhi)外(wai),威懾天下。)夔(kuí)是(shi)傳(chuan)(chuan)說中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)一(yi)(yi)條腿(tui)的(de)怪(guai)物。
《黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)內經》載:“黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)伐蚩(chi)尤(you),玄女(nv)為(wei)帝(di)(di)(di)制夔(kui)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)皮(pi)(pi)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)八(ba)十(shi)面(mian),一震(zhen)五百(bai)里,連震(zhen)三千八(ba)百(bai)里。”九(jiu)天玄女(nv)令(ling)軍士宰夔(kui)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)制作(zuo)八(ba)十(shi)面(mian)戰(zhan)(zhan)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu),使(shi)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)在得到九(jiu)天玄女(nv)輔助之(zhi)后,帶兵(bing)與蚩(chi)尤(you)大(da)戰(zhan)(zhan)于中冀。當黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)擺(bai)下“奇門遁甲(jia)”陣(zhen)之(zhi)后,即(ji)令(ling)軍士以雷獸(shou)之(zhi)骨,大(da)擊八(ba)十(shi)面(mian)夔(kui)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)皮(pi)(pi)巨鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu),一時鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)聲大(da)作(zuo),只見(jian)整個戰(zhan)(zhan)場地動(dong)山(shan)搖(yao),天旋地轉,喊殺沖(chong)宵漢,蚩(chi)尤(you)兵(bing)卒神魂顛倒,沖(chong)殺無門,敗倒如山(shan)。“蚩(chi)尤(you)銅頭啖石(shi)”,即(ji)把(ba)石(shi)頭當飯(fan)食,且能(neng)(neng)“飛空(kong)走險(xian)”。但在夔(kui)牛(niu)(niu)(niu)(niu)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)震(zhen)聲中,“九(jiu)擊止(zhi)之(zhi),尤(you)不能(neng)(neng)走,遂(sui)殺之(zhi)”。爾后,黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)又(you)誅(zhu)榆(yu)罔于阪泉(quan)(今(jin)河北省涿鹿縣東(dong)南),經過這(zhe)場大(da)血戰(zhan)(zhan),天下始得大(da)定。(譯文:在黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)和(he)蚩(chi)尤(you)的戰(zhan)(zhan)爭中,黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)捕獲(huo)了夔(kui),用它(ta)的皮(pi)(pi)制作(zuo)軍鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu),用它(ta)的骨頭作(zuo)為(wei)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槌,結果(guo)擊打這(zhe)面(mian)鼓(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)的聲響能(neng)(neng)夠傳遍(bian)方圓(yuan)500里,使(shi)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)軍士氣(qi)大(da)振、蚩(chi)尤(you)軍大(da)駭。)
夔與天地同生,世上(shang)只(zhi)有三只(zhi),以上(shang)是第一只(zhi),第二只(zhi)乃秦(qin)始皇所(suo)殺。但秦(qin)始皇沒有黃帝的功業,所(suo)以這(zhe)只(zhi)夔的皮做(zuo)成的鼓就(jiu)沒那么(me)神奇了。
更多(duo)的古(gu)籍中(zhong)(zhong)則說夔(kui)是蛇狀怪(guai)物。“夔(kui),神(shen)魅也,如(ru)龍一(yi)足(zu)。”(《說文解(jie)字》)“夔(kui),一(yi)足(zu),踔而行。”(《六帖》)在(zai)商晚期和西(xi)周時期青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)器的裝飾(shi)上(shang),夔(kui)龍紋是主要紋飾(shi)之一(yi),形(xing)象多(duo)為(wei)張口(kou)、卷尾的長條形(xing),外形(xing)與青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)器飾(shi)面(mian)的結構線(xian)相適合,以(yi)直(zhi)線(xian)為(wei)主,弧線(xian)為(wei)輔,具有古(gu)拙的美感。青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)器上(shang)的龍紋常(chang)被稱為(wei)夔(kui)紋和夔(kui)龍紋,自(zi)宋代以(yi)來的著錄(lu)中(zhong)(zhong),在(zai)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)器上(shang)凡(fan)是表現一(yi)足(zu)的、類(lei)似爬蟲(chong)的物象都稱之為(wei)夔(kui),這是引用(yong)了古(gu)籍中(zhong)(zhong)“夔(kui)一(yi)足(zu)”的記(ji)載。其(qi)實,一(yi)足(zu)的動(dong)(dong)物是雙(shuang)足(zu)動(dong)(dong)物的側面(mian)寫形(xing),故不采用(yong)夔(kui)紋一(yi)詞,稱為(wei)夔(kui)龍紋或龍紋。