汉画像石西王母仙境图中的蟾蜍图像探析

Understanding the Toad Images in the Portrait of West Queen from Han Carved Stones

汉代画像石中的西王母仙境中有许多蟾蜍图像,它们成为汉代人企盼永生不死、羽化升仙的重要印证。在西王母仙境中,蟾蜍的构图方式以动态形式出现,与西王母的文静雍容成对比,使仙境图像更为丰富而具有张力。从神话思维、民俗学以及汉代的阴阳五行诸多方面揭示蟾蜍物象作为汉代艺术升仙符号的重要文化内涵。

There are a great number of toad images in the portrait of West Queen from Han carved stones. They are regarded as important proofs to testify people＇s longing for longevity and immortality in the Han Dynasty. In the fairyland of West Queen, the toads are always in motion, forming a contrast with the graceful and reposeful Queen and making the fairyland more vivid and colorful. Approaching these toad images from mythological logic, folklore, yin, yang and the five elements of earth, this paper intends to unveil their cultural connotations and their symbolic meaning of longevity and immortality in the Han Dynasty.