| 摘要: | 本論文以《八仙故事研究》為題，八仙─張果老、鍾離權、呂洞賓、李鐵拐、韓湘子、藍采和、何仙姑、曹國舅是一組神仙群體，個別人物起源虛實不一，具象者，歷史上實有其人；虛構者，附會原型人物而生。從名目發端到人物的會合，經過漫長時間演繹，朝代從唐至明，以文人文學紀錄為本，在宗教信仰、雜劇戲曲與歷史小說中多所敍述。今者，八仙是以象徵「福」、「祿」、「壽」、「喜」的神仙形象為人們所喜愛。是故，從民間文學角度分析八仙故事是一新的面向，才能真正了解在民間社會的八仙團體。
研究方法以「情節單元」與「故事類型」的分析分類為路徑，所謂「情節單元」即「把故事裡每一個敘事完整而不能再細分的情節作為一個單元，名之為「情節單元」（西方稱之為motif，舊譯作「母題」）」，分析情節單元是對故事作微觀。所謂「故事類型」即：「就整個故事的內容和結構作分析，把基本內容和主要結構相同而細節卻或有異的故事歸集在一起，取同捨異，就成為一個故事類型。」作故事類型的分類對龐雜的資料有駕簡馭繁的功用，可便利研究者檢索。
本論文共分六章，第一章為緒論，分為研究動機和研究目的、前賢研究成果與研究範圍與方法。第二章為八仙的起源、演變與定型，從八仙名目的發端、人物的出現至定型作一論述，追溯八仙從史有其人、傳說人物、宗教祖師到民間神祇的軌跡。第三章為八仙故事情節單元析論，從故事資料彙集統計與情節單元的分析分類，並作成《八仙故事情節單元索引》為附錄一。第四章為八仙故事類型析論，探討「八仙故事中的國際類型」及作「八仙成型故事類型分類分析」，並作《八仙故事類型索引》為附錄二。第五章為八仙故事的主題思想，探討八仙故事的四大主題思想：一、「窮」能安貧樂道，二、「病」求仙藥良醫，三「夢」是枕上功名，四、「仙」是最終歸宿；是在探討天、神、人的關聯和人生重要課題－生老病死，與應有的人生態度－修道養壽，此乃個人的自覺。第六章為結論，論述八仙故事的價值與影響。
The topic of the present study is “A Study of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Folktale”. The Eight Immortals, respectively named as Zhang Guo-lao, Zhung Li-quan, Lu Dong-bin, Li Tie-guai, Han Xiang-zi, Lan Cai-he, He Xian-gu, Cao Guo-jiu, are a group of celestials in Chinese mythology. Some of them are said to have been found in history, while the fictitious ones were created with the original characters. It took a long process of deduction and evolution from the initiation of names to the formation of true characters. From Tang Dynasty to Ming Dynasty, the Eight Immortals had been extensively described mainly in literary documents, such as in religious literatures, Chinese opera like Zaju and Xiqu, and in historical novels. Nowadays, the Eight Immortals are popular and favored as the auspicious symbolization of Luck, Wealth, Longevity and Happiness. Therefore, to truly understand the Eight Immortals in civil society, a folktale analysis of the Eight Immortals on the basis of folk literature has been established as a new aspect in the study of Chinese folklore.
Research method of the present study includes a genre analysis based on the “Motif” and “Type’’ of the folktale. The so-called “motif” refers to “a recurring element in a story that has a complete narration and cannot be divided into a more detailed plot.” It is needed to classify such element as a motif in order to conduct the micro analysis of the present study. As for the “type” analysis, on the other hand, it refers to the macro analysis that “analyzes the content and construction of the whole folktale, collects the similarities of several stories which primarily share the same construction with minor differences in its detailed plots, and classifies the similarities as a distinctive type.” Conducting a type analysis is useful for the researcher to have a simplified process dealing with a massive amount of data sources.
The present study is composed of six chapters. Chapter One is the introduction, which includes the rationale and purpose of the study, along with the results discovered from previous research studies. Chapter Two then discusses the origin, evolution and formation of the Eight Immortals. This chapter sets out the argumentation from the initiation of the names and the occurrences of the characters, to the finalization of the characters, which all can be traced back to the history, legendry, religion, ancestry and folk spirits. Chapter Three relates to the motif analysis of the folklore about the Eight Immortals. The collection and classification of the folklore data in the motif analysis is presented in the Index of Motifs in the Folktales of the Eight Immortals attached in the appendix. Chapter Four is associated with type analysis, in which the universal types in the folklore of Eight Immortals and the folklore of the formation of the Eight Immortals are explicitly discussed. An Index of Types in the Folktales of the Eight Immortals is attached in the appendix as well. Chapter Five is mainly about the theme concept of the folktales of the Eight Immortals. There are four theme concepts presented among the folktales of the Eight Immortals: (a) poverty—as the happiness of life, (b) illness—as the best cure, (c) dream—as the ultimate achievement , and (d) celestial—as the final resort. These concepts attempt to discuss the relationship among celestial, immortality and human beings, as well as the most important issues of life—birth, aging, illness and death. In addition, the life attitude that people should possess—the development of morality and longevity—is also included based on one’s self-consciousness. Chapter Six is the conclusion of the study, which illustrates the value and impact of the folklore of the Eight Immortals. |
