“锁龙井”传说的古今演变——兼谈“当代传说”的生产传播机制

The Evolution of the Legend of the Chained Dragon Well from Ancient Times to the Present:A Concurrent Discussion on the Production and Dissemination Mechanism of Contemporary Legends

“锁龙井”传说是“锁水怪”型故事在当代产生的异文。该型故事源于晋代文献中的“钓金牛”故事,后世与不同故事母题融合,分别形成“神人锁水怪”与“牵锁导致异动”两种母题,结合形成“锁龙井”传说的情节基干,融入当代要素成为当代传说。其演化动力是当代人的认知观念,而龙信仰是流传的前提。该传说证明,只要符合当代人的认知与信仰,古代传说完全有可能演进为当代传说。当代传说在信仰基础、演变规律上与古代传说一致,在功能上与古代传说有所区别,在生产与传播方面则呈现独到机制。

The legend of the Chained Dragon Well is a contemporary variant of the Chained Water Monster story type.This type of story originates from the story of Fishing for the Golden Ox in documents from the Jin Dynasty,which merges with different story motifs in later generations,and forms two motifs of Immortal Chaining Water Monster and Pulling the Chain Leading to Abnormal Movements,which combine to form the plot basic line of the Legend of the Chained Dragon Well and integrate contemporary elements to become a contemporary legend.Contemporary people's cognitive concept is the evolutionary propulsion of the legend,and belief in dragon is the premise of its dissemination.This legend proves that ancient legends are entirely likely to evolve into contemporary legends if they conform to contemporary people's cognition and belief.Contemporary legends are consistent with ancient ones in terms of basis of belief and evolutionary laws,but they are different from ancient ones in terms of function,and they present a unique mechanism in terms of production and dissemination.