自古以來，動物與人之生活息息相關，而六朝志怪筆記盛行，有關動物情節之敘事已可見及，人們口耳相傳的談資、文人耳聞目見而執筆隨錄之文，在傳聞來源及記錄者之地域、背景各異的情形下，使六朝關注於動物敘事之筆記，呈現多樣風貌。本論文以六朝志怪筆記之動物故事為觀察面向，涉及二十五本書目，四百○六則敘事，以「民間故事」角度切入，由「情節單元」及「故事類型」兩方面進行觀察研究，探其意義及價值。
論文分八章論述：第壹章緒論；第貳章為六朝志怪筆記動物故事相關書目與情節單元之分析；第叁章、第肆章乃就情節之「奇貌殊能」、「人情互動」方面研探；第伍章就「故事類型」論之，敘六朝志怪筆記動物類型故事；第陸章探六朝志怪筆記動物故事所呈現之民俗信仰與社會現象，研析內在之深層意涵；第柒章述六朝志怪筆記動物故事在後世的流傳與影響；第捌章結論，總結研究成果。
Animals have been important in people’s life since the ancient periods. The statement about the animals can be found in the Six Dynasties. Because of different narrators and dissimilar recorders, the statement about the animals presents various features. This dissertation concerns about animals’ stories of supernatural folktales in the Six Dynasties, which includes 406 accounts in 25 books. The point of penetration consists in folktales, which emphasizes narrative elements and types of the folktales.
This dissertation discusses eight parts. Chapter One expounds the introduction of the writing. Chapter Two narrates the books on the subject and the analysis about the narrative elements. Chapter Three and Chapter Four involve in strange appearances, special abilities and emotional interaction with people. Chapter Five studies the types of the folktales. Chapter Six probes into the theme about the folk custom, the faith, and the phenomenon in the society. Chapter Seven describes the spread and influence of the supernatural animals’ folktales after the Six Dynasties. Chapter Eight concludes the results.
