论关羽的神化——兼评李存葆的《东方之神》

On the Deification of Guan Yu——Comments on Li Cun-bao’s Oriental God

要对关羽的历史事实作考证 ,应该以《三国志》等史书为重要资料 ,不能以小说、民间故事、传说为依据。从历史考证的角度看 ,李存葆的《东方之神》所说的关羽仗义杀人、桃园结义、为保刘备夫人而降曹等均无史实根据 ,都是美化或神化关羽的产物。关羽被神化的原因主要是历代统治者的着意打造 ,此外还有小说《三国演义》的渲染和社会各阶层的精神需要。现在我们要做的 ,不是将这个被神化的关羽作某些改造后继续供人崇拜 ,而是将它还原为一个人 ,并在这一基础上进一步揭示造神的由来和意义。

If we want to do any research on the historical facts concerning Guan Yu, we should take historical records like History of the Three Kingdoms as important materials. In this case, fictions, legends or fair tales can’t be relied on. From the historical point of view, Li Cun bao’s Oriental God gives such information about Guan Yu: He committed murder for justice’s sake; He built up a relationship with Liu bei and Zhang Fei as sworn brothers; He surrendered to Cao Cao in order to protect Liu Bei’s wives. None of these are based on historical facts. They are prettifications and deifications. Generations of ruling classes deliberately made them; The novel The Three Kingdoms exaggerated them; Different social classes had a strong need of them. What we are supposed to do presently is not to modify this deified Guan Yu slightly and keep him for admiration, but to restore him to a human being, and therefore reveal the origin and significance of deification.