重新审视芮德菲尔德的“大传统”与“小传统”理论

Re-examination of Redfield's Theory of “Great Tradition” and “Little Tradition”

美国人类学家罗伯特·芮德菲尔德的代表作《农民社会与文化》因其中提出"大传统"与"小传统"理论而在人类学、历史学以及思想史诸领域极负盛名。芮德菲尔德"大传统"与"小传统"的概念看似简单,内涵实则复杂,且并不完善,甚或会造成错误和混乱。其中就语词来说,以精英与大众来定义"大传统"与"小传统"并非科学。事实上,国家或政府层面的某种价值导向未必就一定是大传统,也并非所谓精英层面的思想就一定是大传统;民间或民俗层面的某种观念或价值取向也未必就一定是小传统;并且国家层面的文化传统与地方层面的文化传统未必就是对立的,它们完全可能是一致的或统一的,而且在许多情况下,精英与大众也并无二致。确定"大传统"与"小传统"只有一条标准,也是唯一的标准,这就是应从主流与非主流的角度来理解。

American anthropologist Robert Redfield＇s masterpiece, Peasant Society and Culture, won wide acclaim in the field of anthropology, history and history of ideas for its theory of ＂great tradition＂ and ＂little tradition＂. Redfield＇s concepts of ＂great tradition＂ and ＂little tradition＂ seem concise and clear, but the connotations are complex and imperfect, and even misleading and confusing. When it comes to terms, it is not scientific to define ＂great tradition＂ with the elite and ＂little tradition＂ with the public. The value orientation at the state or government level is not necessarily great tradition, neither are the so-called elite thoughts necessarily great tradition. Some ideas or value orientations of the folk or public are not necessarily little tradition. Besides, national and local cultural traditions are not necessarily contradictory, and they may be consistent or unified. In many cases, the elite and the public are not of great difference. There is only one standard of judging ＂great tradition＂ and ＂little tradition＂, that is, whether the tradition is of the mainstream or not.