明清小说戏曲中的女子“断发”情节研究

A Study on the "Hair Cutting" Plot of Female Characters in Ming and Qing Novels and Operas

“断发”之举,渊源有自,其来尚矣。早在原始社会,“断发”行为就是因地制宜的百越民俗和悖礼犯义的中原禁忌,与地域因素、生活方式、民族意识乃至社会伦理关联密切。而聚焦历史上发生的真实断发事件,主体犹以女性居多,女子“断发”的背后暗含了其婚恋状况的反映、贞节观念的体现和内心悲愤的宣泄,现实寓意丰富深厚。明清小说戏曲借用此种情节结构,渲染描绘,呈现了矢志守节,割发立誓;男女恋爱,截发传情;意同折辱,剃发受惩;内心悲愤,断发绝念;夫妻分离,剪发寄情;看破红尘,削发空门;迫于生计,祝发谋生等特定类型。此情节叙写了不同情境下的个体故事,代表了不同遭遇下的女性心声,蕴含了广博精深的文化内蕴和独树一帜的审美属性。

The act of"cutting hair"has been deeply rooted in the history.As early as primitive society,the act of"cutting hair"was a localized Baiyue custom but a taboo in the Central Plains that was regarded as the violation of rituals.It is closely related to geographical factors,ways of life,ethnic consciousness,and even social ethics.It is found that,by focusing on historical events of hair cutting in real life,most of them are associated with women.The act of women’s"cutting hair"reflects their marital status,embodies their chastity beliefs,and gives vent to their inner sorrow and indignation,taking rich and profound real-life meanings.In Ming and Qing novels and operas,this plot structure was employed to depict various scenarios such as resolutely taking vows by cutting hair,displaying affection between men and women through hair cutting,enduring humiliation and punishment through hair shaving,expressing inner sorrow and determination through hair cutting,conveying love by sending hair when couples are separated,renouncing worldly desires by shaving hair,and cutting hair as a means of livelihood under pressure from life.These narratives depict individual stories in different contexts and represent the voices of women under various circumstances,containing a profound cultural connotation and a unique aesthetic attribute.