口头传统和文字记载的分野与融合——关于晋地李世民传说的解读

Distinction and Integration of Oral Tradition and Textual Records--Interpretation of Li Shimin’s Legends in Shanxi

口头传统是一种了解民族历史的重要口传资料。以往关于古代历史人物的研究多以传世文献为中心,忽略了口头传统的价值。文字记载反映统治者及上层社会的意识形态,是一种全局性的大历史;口头传统反映民间生活经验和社会习俗惯制,是一种地方性的小历史。文章通过对晋地李世民传说的解读,发现传说中李世民兼具英雄、帝王、虫王等多元形象特质,折射出文字记载与口头传统、国家政治与地方社会之间的分野与融合。这为我们理解历史话语的建构过程及其深层的民族集体记忆,提供了文字之外的另一种视角。

Oral tradition is an important oral material for understanding national history.Previous studies on ancient historical figures mainly focus on written records while ignore the value of oral tradition.Written records which reflect the ideology of the rulers and the upper class show a kind of macro-history;oral tradition which reflects folk life experience and social customs shows a smaller local history.Through the interpretation of the legends of Li Shimin in Shanxi,it is found that Li Shimin has the multiple characteristics of a hero,an emperor and Chongwang(the god protecting crops),reflecting the distinction and integration between written records and oral tradition,national politics and local society.Oral tradition provides us with another perspective beyond written records to understand the construction of historical discourse and its deep national collective memory.