宗教·人性·伦理——谈古代文言小说神仙考验型作品的流变

Religion, Humanity, or Ethics ——A Discussion of the Evolution of the Type of Classical Chinese Novels with the Test of Supernatural Beings

称灵道异、张皇鬼神是古代文言小说的主要题材内容,神仙考验型作品是其中的一个别具特色的叙事 范型。神仙考验,试探人心,其由宗教化向世俗化、伦理化转变的趋势,正是道教发展演变的反映,也是宗教意识淡 化、人本思想张扬的表现。

The narration of monsters, ghosts and supernatural beings is the main subject of ancient classical Chinese novels. Among them, the type of novels with the test of supernatural beings has a unique narrative model. The test of supernatural beings to probe human morality shows a tendency of evolution from religion to common customs and ethics. This tendency of evolution is just a reflection of the development of Taoism and is also a manifestation of the weakening of religious consciousness and publicizing of humanitarianism.