日本古典文学中的上巳桃花

An Investigation of Peach Blossom Images from the Shangsi Festival in Japanese Classical Literature

日本的三月三日习俗与桃花有着密切联系,不仅要装饰桃花,还要饮用桃花酒。历来研究认为,这是中国古代桃木辟邪观念影响下的产物。但是,纵观中日两国古代的上巳记述,很难断定桃木辟邪观念与三月三日习俗有直接关联。通过对日本古典文学中的上巳桃花进行考察可知,日本宫廷上巳宴对桃花的关注以及中国西王母故事的传入,使得桃花与日本的三月三日习俗结合在一起成为日本上巳节的代表性景物,并延发了日本饰桃花、饮桃花酒等独特的节日习俗。

The customs of March 3rd in ancient Japan is intimately connected with peach blossom,not only by decorating the peach blossom,but also by drinking peach blossom wine.Most previous research has suggested this originated from the idea that peach wood could drive away evil spirits in ancient China.But throughout the ancient records of China and Japan,seldom can documents be found to show that there is any relationship between peach wood and the traditions of Shangsi Festival.Through the author's investigation of peach blossom imagery from Shangsi Festival in Japanese classical literature,this paper comes to the conclusion that the attention to peach blossoms on Shangsi banquet and the spread of the story of Xiwangmu led to the connection of peach blossoms and Shangsi Festival,and customs such as decorating with peach blossoms and drinking peach blossom wine as well in ancient Japan.