湘西洞神传说文化制衡作用研究

An Analysis of the Cultural Check and Balance Function of the Cave God Legends in Western Hunan

湘西洞神传说是指以湘西洞穴中的神仙、鬼怪、妖兽为传说核的民间口述文本。这些传说以丰富的内容展现了湘西地区独特的自然环境和历史文化环境,是表现民间生活观、伦理观、宗教观、风俗观和艺术观等价值观的重要文本形式。本文立足于湘西洞神传说现有的传说文本进行研究,总结出"对自然生态平衡行为的推崇"、"对社会安定团结和谐行为的褒扬"、"对湘西民众生活的娱乐"、"对崇巫信鬼行为的解释"等几个湘西洞神传说的重要文化制衡作用,为进一步发掘和研究湘西洞神传说奠定基础。

The legends of Cave Gods refer to the oral texts focusing on the supernatural beings, ghosts, monsters, goblin animals. Such legends, with their rich contents, have displayed a unique natural environment and historical and cultural environment of Western Hunan. They are essential texts which represent people＇s views of life, ethics, religion, custom, arts, etc. This article, based on the existing texts of the Cave Gods legends, concludes that there are several cultural check and balance functions like ＂respecting the balance of the nature and ecology＂, ＂praising highly for social stability, unity and harmony＂, ＂entertaining the public of Western Hunan＂, ＂interpreting the acts of beliefs in witches and ghosts＂, which make a solid foundation for the a further exploration and research on the legend of Cave Gods in Western Hunan.