信仰的危机与再建——也论《西游记》主题思想

Belief Crisis and Its Reconstruction:On the Theme of Journey to the West

百回本《西游记》的原旨究竟是什么,历来见仁见智,研究者往往热衷于“大闹三界”“西行求法”的玄幻和有趣,而对阴森晦暗、沉闷乏味的“取经缘起”却少有考量。《西游记》是披着佛道外衣、独辟蹊径、用神话寓言的形式形象生动地诠释信仰危机与再建进而“再造”一个令人向往的社会秩序的小说,书中所眷注的,是天下苍生的苦乐,是社会发展中的信仰问题。《西游记》所蕴含的浓浓的家国情怀,所展示的中国文化人为破解信仰危机而不懈奋斗的精神,大概就是其成为奇书和名著的原因所在。

There have always been different opinions on what the original purpose of Journey to the West is.Researchers are often keen on the fantasy and fun of“making trouble in the three realms”and“seeking the law in the west”,but rarely consider the gloomy and dull“origin of learning scriptures”.Journey to the West is a novel that vividly interprets the belief crisis and reconstruction in the form of myths and fables,and then“recreates”a yearning social order.What the book pays attention to is the bitterness and happiness of all people in the world and the problem of belief in social development.The strong feelings of family and country contained in Journey to the West and the spirit of unremitting struggle of Chinese culture to solve the belief crisis are probably the reasons why it has become a wonderful book and masterpiece.