关于传统《格萨尔》早期版本

Study on the Early Traditional Editions of Gesar

文章提出《格萨尔》版本研究首先应该区别早期版本和现代艺人的说唱本,论述如何辨别传统《格萨尔》早期版本的六道工序及其六大特征。即辨别《格萨尔》早期版本中"同一类题材"之间的"变异本",从而确立其中的"善本",也即"传统本";再通过母题研究,按整体故事情节的发展和人物的生卒安排等内容,排列出《格萨尔》早期版本里"非同类题材"的各个"善本"之间的次序,从而揭示一整套《格萨尔》版本的源流及其完整体系。这个"完整的体系"也就是"传统《格萨尔》早期版本",可分五大类:即《格萨尔》前三部、中五部、降伏四魔、十八大宗、后三部,共计35个部本。

This paper proposes that the research of editions should start with the discrimination between the early editions of Gesar and the performing volume narrated and chanted by contemporary artists. It demonstrates the six properties of the early editions of C, esar and the six steps to distinguish them from others,which are as follows：first,tell apart the variations with the same type of subjects from the early editions so as to find out the ＂good ones＂ （traditional editions）; secondly,put these ＂good editions＂ in sequence by researching on the smallest plot unit of them, the development of the whole plot and the birth and death dates of characters in them in order that the origins of Gesar editions and the intergrate system be disclosed. And this ＂integrate system＂ is just the ＂early traditional editions of Gesar＂ ,which can be divided into five groups： the fist three volumes of Gesar,the middle five volumes, subdue the four demons, the eighteen great wars,the latter three volumes,adding up to 35 editions.