漫谈中国古代“异类妻子”童话中的“箭垛式”人物

Analysis of the Arrow Crib Figures in Chinese Nonhuman-Wife Romance Folktales

中国民间童话故事中有一个有趣的母题:人与异类的异类婚母题形态。其中,"异类妻子"型故事,无论数量还是内容都更加丰富。这类故事中的人物形象都呈现出"箭垛式"的特点:男主人公普遍为社会地位卑下的"灰小子",女主人公则多为具有法力的"仙女"或"精怪",还有破坏男女主人公爱情的恶势力,如天帝、国王等第三方权势人物。"灰小子"——恶势力——"异类妻子"构成了"异类妻子"型民间童话的人物架设和故事情节。这些"箭垛式"人物形象的塑造实际上是中国古代底层劳动人民社会生活的隐喻,具有符号性的特征。

A quite interesting motif in Chinese folktales is human-nonhuman romance type,among which 'nonhuman wife type' is bigger in both number and coverage. Almost all the main figures in stories of the type have some typical characteristics,consequently called ' arrow crib figures'. The heroes in these stories are always poor men with lower social status while heroines are fairies or elf with supernatural power. Besides,there is always an evil between the hero and heroine,destroying their love,such as King of Heaven,king of human,etc. Poor man,evil force and nonhuman wife are three main figures who tell the nonhuman wife romance stories. In fact,these 'arrow crib figures ' are created in accordance with culture and psychology of Chinese ancient working people.Namely,the arrow crib figures are typical and symbolic.