“神话细胞”论与神话学方法论的拓新——陈建宪教授的母题分析理论述评

Theory of Myth Cell and the Innovation of Methodologies of Mythology——A Review of Prof.Chen Jianxian's Motif Analysis Theory

陈建宪教授借鉴斯蒂·汤普森的母题分类理论,提出"母题是神话细胞"的观点,由此探索出相对客观的神话学方法论——母题分析理论。他从神话分类出发,完成了其神话学研究的三个阶段:母题内涵研究——中国古代神话、人类洪水神话的母题个案研究——母题分析理论。陈建宪教授系统建构的以母题分析为灵魂的神话学方法论,对于当代中国神话研究具有拓新价值,就世界神话学而言,也有别开生面的方法论意义。

Based on Stith Thompson＇s Motif Classification Theory, Prof. Chen Jianxian proposes the opinion that motif is the cell of a myth, which results m a relatively objective methodology of mythology-Motif Analysis Theory. Start- ing from the classification of mythology, he completes the three phases of his mythology research, namely the research on motif connotation, case studies on motif of Chinese ancient mythology and human flood mythology, as well as Motif Analysis Theory. Centered on motif analysis and systematically constructed by Prof. Chen, the methodology of mythology is of innovative value to the contemporary Chinese mythology research and also of brand new significance to the world mythology in terms of methodology.