试析《东堂老》中的托孤现象

Analysis on the Phenomenon of Entrusting Orphans in Dong Tang Lao

元杂剧可谓植根于社会生活的现实佳作。普通市井百姓的悲与欢、苦与乐汇集于杂剧家笔端,接连涌现出描摹世俗、取材民间的人情世态剧。元代末期秦简夫的《东堂老》既沿承前代托孤的固定程式——临终托孤,又突破性地呈现义商受托的独特现象——正面商人形象,还艺术性地塑造家庭继承者的转变过程——浪子回头。剧中塑造的东堂老正面商人形象巧设一系列妙计完成好友托孤遗愿,既反映了当时普遍存在的富商家产继承困难的社会问题,也反映出秦简夫企望以戏曲教化民众,挽救社会道德水准衰颓的目的。《东堂老》中所蕴含的中华传统美德和所呈现的积极人生观,对践行现代社会价值观都具有启发意义。

Yuan Zaju can be regarded as a masterpiece rooted in social life.The sadness and joy,bitterness and joy of ordinary people in the market are gathered in the writing of Zaju masters,and a series of human and social dramas that depict the secular world and draw inspiration from the people have emerged.In the late Yuan Dynasty,Qin Jianfu’s“Dong Tang Lao”not only follows the fixed pattern of entrusting orphans in the past-dying orphans,but also breaks through the unique phenomenon of being entrusted by the righteous merchants-the positive image of a merchant.It also artistically portrays the transformation process of family heirs-the return of the prodigal son.The portrayal of a prominent businessman in Dong Tang Lao cleverly employs a series of clever strategies to fulfill his friend’s wish to entrust an orphan.This not only reflects the common social problem of inheriting wealth from wealthy merchants at that time,but also reflects Qin Jianfu’s hope to educate the people through traditional Chinese opera and save the decline of social moral standards.The traditional Chinese virtues and positive outlook on life presented in“Dong Tang Lao”have enlightening significance for practicing modern social values.