兄弟的隐喻——中国西南地区同源共祖神话探讨

The Metaphor of Brother——The Discussion of Myth of Having the Same Common Ancestor in Southwest China

同源共祖神话母题在全国尤其是西南地区广泛流传。这个母题首先叙述了各族群来自于同一祖先、互为兄弟,然后再解释各族群在语言、居住地、生产工具等方面的差异。神话虽然讲述的是神圣世界的神圣人物和神圣事件,但是却反映了世俗的生活。同源共祖神话在此方面表现尤为突出,它表面上追忆了族群的起源,实际上却在诠释现实,反映了现实生活中的族群认同与族群关系。

The motif of myth of having the same common ancestor is widely spread in China, especially in southwest areas. This motif firstly describes that different ethnic groups are derived from the same ancestor and they are brothers. Then, the distinctions of languages, inhabitants, productive tools and other aspects in different ethnic groups are explained. Although the myths tell the sacred characters and events of divine world, these characters and events reflect the worldly life. This is especially sali- ent in myth of having the same common ancestor. In the surface level, this kind of myth recalls the ori- gin of ethnic groups; however, it interprets the reality and reflects the identification and relationship of ethnic groups of real life in the deep level.