古代文学中媒婆形象的演变——从唐传奇到明清小说

The Evolution of Women Matchmakers’ Image in Ancient Literature——From the Legends in the Tang Dynasty to the Novels in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

媒婆是古代小说中比较类型化的一种形象。唐传奇中媒婆的形象比较模糊,文本突出其性情,在婚恋中作用不大。宋元话本突出媒婆的市井气息,追求生活趣味。明清小说中媒婆多刻画其贪财好利、巧言如簧和坑蒙拐骗等丑恶的一面,寄予着作者警戒世人的目的。

Women matchmaker was a typologized image in ancient novels. The image of women matchmakers in the legends of Tang Dynasty were vague, and the text highlighted their temperament, which played little role in marriages. Story scripts in the Song and Yuan Dynasties highlighted women matchmakers’ social atmosphere and interest of life. In the novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, women matchmakers were often portrayed as greedy for money and profit, eloquent and deceptive, with the author’s purpose of warning the world.