刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)是(shi)中(zhong)國古代神話傳說中(zhong)的(de)人物。刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)原是(shi)一個無名(ming)的(de)巨人,因和黃帝(di)爭神座,被黃帝(di)砍掉了腦(nao)袋。“刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)”這(zhe)個名(ming)字的(de)意思就是(shi):天(tian)(tian)(tian)者(zhe),顛也(ye);刑(xing)者(zhe),戮也(ye)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)就是(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)帝(di),“刑(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)”就表示誓戮天(tian)(tian)(tian)帝(di)以復(fu)仇。
刑天斷首的故事(shi)出(chu)自《山海經(jing)·海外(wai)西經(jing)》。
《山(shan)海經.校注》云:“刑天與帝爭神。帝斷其首,葬于常(chang)羊之野。乃以乳為目,以臍為口,操干(gan)戚(qi)而舞。”
刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)與帝(di)(di)至此爭(zheng)神(shen),帝(di)(di)斷(duan)其首,葬之(zhi)常(chang)羊之(zhi)山(shan),乃以(yi)乳(ru)為目(mu),以(yi)臍(qi)(qi)為口,操干戚(qi)以(yi)舞(wu)。”乃出于東(dong)周(zhou)的(de)《山(shan)海(hai)(hai)(hai)經(jing).海(hai)(hai)(hai)外西經(jing)》。話說刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)與天(tian)(tian)帝(di)(di)(黃帝(di)(di))爭(zheng)奪神(shen)位寶座。二者相(xiang)斗,帝(di)(di)終斷(duan)刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)首級,并把他葬于常(chang)羊之(zhi)山(shan)。但刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)魂魄不滅(mie),竟以(yi)乳(ru)為目(mu)、臍(qi)(qi)為口,手執干戈漫舞(wu)。晉·陶淵明(ming)《讀山(shan)海(hai)(hai)(hai)經(jing)十三首》有云:“精衛銜微木,將以(yi)填滄海(hai)(hai)(hai)。刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)(tian)舞(wu)干戚(qi),猛志固常(chang)在。同(tong)物既無類(有的(de)版(ban)本(ben)是“同(tong)物既無慮”),化去不復悔。徒設在昔心,良辰詎可待!”
刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)是(shi)山海(hai)(hai)經里提到(dao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)一位無頭巨人,原是(shi)炎帝(di)(di)(di)的(de)(de)(de)(de)手(shou)下(xia)。自炎帝(di)(di)(di)被(bei)(bei)黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)在(zai)(zai)(zai)阪(ban)泉之戰打敗之后(hou),刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)便跟隨(sui)在(zai)(zai)(zai)炎帝(di)(di)(di)身邊,定居在(zai)(zai)(zai)南(nan)方。當時,蚩尤(you)起兵(bing)復仇,卻(que)被(bei)(bei)黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)鏟平,因而身首異處,刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)一怒(nu)之下(xia)便手(shou)拿著(zhu)利斧,殺到(dao)天(tian)庭(ting)中央的(de)(de)(de)(de)南(nan)天(tian)門外,指(zhi)名(ming)要(yao)與黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)單挑獨(du)斗(dou)。最后(hou)刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)不敵,被(bei)(bei)黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)斬(zhan)去(qu)頭顱(lu)。而沒(mei)了頭的(de)(de)(de)(de)刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)并沒(mei)有因此(ci)死去(qu),而是(shi)重新(xin)站了起來,并把胸前(qian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兩個乳頭當作眼睛,把肚臍當作嘴巴;左手(shou)握(wo)盾,右手(shou)拿斧。因為沒(mei)了頭顱(lu),所(suo)以(yi)他(ta)只能永(yong)遠的(de)(de)(de)(de)與看不見的(de)(de)(de)(de)敵人廝(si)殺,永(yong)遠的(de)(de)(de)(de)戰斗(dou)。而在(zai)(zai)(zai)陶淵明的(de)(de)(de)(de)《讀山海(hai)(hai)經》中有:“精衛銜微木(mu),將以(yi)填滄海(hai)(hai)。刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)舞干(gan)戚,猛志固常在(zai)(zai)(zai)。同物(wu)既無類,化去(qu)不復悔。徒設在(zai)(zai)(zai)昔心(xin),良辰詎可(ke)待(dai)!”來贊頌刑(xing)(xing)天(tian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)精神。
干(gan)(盾)和戚(大(da)斧(fu))。