明清小说中的镜子意象研究

Study on Images of Mirror in Novels of Ming and Qing Dynasties

镜子这一意象多次在明清小说中出现。《红楼梦》中的专治邪思妄动之症、有济世保生之功的"风月宝鉴",《三宝太监西洋记通俗演义》中多次出现的"轩辕镜",《西游记》中的"照妖镜",还有《二刻拍案惊奇》中具有聚财敛富之用的"古镜",《聊斋志异》中用以占卜的"镜听",墓葬中随葬的镜子。这些镜子所表现出来的意象都有一个共同的特点,就是驱邪除妖。尤其是在神魔小说中最能体现这一点。要解释这一现象,就要从镜子本身的解释及镜子所代表的意象来分析,以回答镜子多用以驱邪除妖的问题,还可以阐释镜子这一器物在明清小说中所蕴含的文化意义。

The image of mirror frequently appears in the novels of Ming and Qing Dynasties.In A dream of Red Mansions,there is a "mirror of wind and moon",which is devoted to the treatment of evil thoughts and impulsive actions."Xuanyuan mirror" appeared many times in " Sanbao Eunuch Visited the 'Western World'",the "magic mirror" inJourney to the West,and the "ancient mirror" which can collect money and make its owner rich in Amazing Tales- Second Series,"hearing through a mirror" used for divination in strange tales from The Strange Tales of Liao Zhai which was a burial mirror in a tomb.The image of these mirrors shares one characteristic,that is,to eliminate evil spirits.This is especially true in supernatural novels.To explain this phenomenon,itisnecessary to analyze the mirror itself and the image it represents to answer the question why mirrors are often used todrive away evil spirits.It can also explain the cultural significance of the mirror in the novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties.