钟敬文“民俗学是现代学”思想与中国民俗学“朝向当下”的转向

Zhong Jingwen's Theory of"Folkloristics is a Modern Discipline"and the Shift of Chinese Folkloristics towards the Present-facing Perspective

在钟敬文贡献于世的丰富学术遗产中,“民俗学是现代学”的思想无疑占据着重要位置,不过迄今学界对此缺乏专门的梳理和研究。以世界民俗学的当代转向为背景,可以分析这一思想的主要内容、产生背景、学术意义、存在局限,以及直接和间接的影响。与世界民俗学界的探索基本同步,钟先生于20世纪70年代末开始明确倡导“民俗学是现代学”的理论主张,其主要内容包括:民俗学的研究对象主要是现代社会中的民俗事象;主要研究方法是对它们进行实地采集并加以科学研究;研究视角主要着眼于现在;研究目的是为现代社会和文化服务。这一思想的形成和发展既受到世界民俗学界的影响,更与改革开放以后中国社会的时代背景,以及社会变迁引发的学科重建意识有关。该理论为新时期中国民俗学指明了前行的新方向,扩展了研究的领域,增强了学科研究和服务现代社会的能力,并为相关探索贡献了根本性的理论框架,直接和间接地促成了当代中国民俗学朝向当下的转向。

Zhong Jingwen has made significant contributions to the field of folkloristics,and his theory of"folkloristics is a modern discipline"is undoubtedly one of his most important academic legacies.Despite its importance,there has been a lack of sufficient investigation of this theory in the academic community.Against the backdrop of the contemporary shift in international folkloristics towards a present-facing perspective,this article analyzes the main content,background,academic significance,limitations,and direct and indirect effects of Zhong's theory.In sync with the related explorations in international folkloristics,Zhong began to advocate his theory in the late1970s.Its main contents include that the objects of folkloristics are mainly folklore items in modern societies;the primary method of study is to collect them via fieldwork and conduct scientific research;the research perspective is mainly focused on the present,and the study purpose is to serve the needs of modern societies.The formation and development of this theory has been influenced to some extent by the international folkloristics,and is more related to the context of Chinese society after the Reform and Opening-up and the awareness of disciplinary reconstruction triggered by social changes.This theory points out a new direction for Chinese folkloristics,expands the scope of research,enhances the ability of the discipline to study and serve modern society,and provides a fundamental theoretical framework for related explorations.Ultimately,it contributes to the shift of contemporary Chinese folkloristics toward a present-facing perspective,both directly and indirectly.