《列仙传》的神话与小说家观念

Mythological Thinking of “Biography of Many Supernatural Beings” and Novelists’ Conceptions

《列仙传》采取诗文结合的形式,全面、生动地记述了70多位神仙活动的时代、地点以及相关事迹和成仙过程,在宣扬黄老之道的同时也具有比较高的文学艺术价值。同时,《列仙传》将历史人物神仙化,又将神仙历史化,重善、求美而轻真,体现了先秦两汉小说的风范,一定程度上反映了百家之一的小说家的学术思想。其形制与价值观念都影响着后世的神话与小说文学。从其表现的小说特点来看,标志着文学全面自觉时代的开始。

＂Biography of Many Supernatural Beings＂ adopts the mingled form of verses and writings, vividly recording and narrating the place and time of their activities, interrelated deeds and the processes of becoming immortals of seventy supernatural beings. It publieises the doctrines of Huang and Laozi and also possesses a high art value. Meanwhile, it makes supernatural beings become historical figures. It values kindness, seeks beauty and belittles truth, em- bodying the styles of fictions in the Pre-Qin days and Han Dynasty. To some degree, it represents the novelis＇s science ideology. Its structure and values have an effect on fairy tales and fieitions in later ages. From the point of view of fieition shown in it characteristics, it indicates the beginning of the times of overall literary consciousness.