Ancient Myths and the Construction of Regional Literary History——The General History of Sichuan Literature
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摘要
The literary study of ancient mythology is a rational and necessary prerequisite for the study of the general history of Sichuan literature in the Pre-Qin period, though it can go beyond the study of literature. Compared with other Chinese regional literatures such as Jing-Chu literature, the insufficiency of the literalization of the early Ba-Shu myth, to some extent, devalues the Ba-Shu literature in the Pre-Qin period and affects its consistence. When dealing with the influence of ancient mythology on the development of Chinese regional literature, including Sichuan literature, we need to analyze the inherent impact of regional mythology on the developing literature using a three-step process: restoring and summarizing the mythological pedigree, uncovering the "conceptual structure" of the mythology, and explaining the impact of the mythology on the developing literature. This paper uses this three-step process to construct the general history of Sichuan literature.
The literary study of ancient mythology is a rational and necessary prerequisite for the study of the general history of Sichuan literature in the Pre-Qin period, though it can go beyond the study of literature. Compared with other Chinese regional literatures such as Jing-Chu literature, the insufficiency of the literalization of the early Ba-Shu myth, to some extent, devalues the Ba-Shu literature in the Pre-Qin period and affects its consistence. When dealing with the influence of ancient mythology on the development of Chinese regional literature, including Sichuan literature, we need to analyze the inherent impact of regional mythology on the developing literature using a three-step process: restoring and summarizing the mythological pedigree, uncovering the "conceptual structure" of the mythology, and explaining the impact of the mythology on the developing literature. This paper uses this three-step process to construct the general history of Sichuan literature.
The literary study of ancient mythology is a rational and necessary prerequisite for the study of the general history of Sichuan literature in the Pre-Qin period, though it can go beyond the study of literature. Compared with other Chinese regional literatures such as Jing-Chu literature, the insufficiency of the literalization of the early Ba-Shu myth, to some extent, devalues the Ba-Shu literature in the Pre-Qin period and affects its consistence. When dealing with the influence of ancient mythology on the development of Chinese regional literature, including Sichuan literature, we need to analyze the inherent impact of regional mythology on the developing literature using a three-step process: restoring and summarizing the mythological pedigree, uncovering the "conceptual structure" of the mythology, and explaining the impact of the mythology on the developing literature. This paper uses this three-step process to construct the general history of Sichuan literature.
引文
Cheng Jincheng.(2009).The influence of Chinese mythology on the formulation of narrative archetypes.Journal of Lanzhou University(Social Sciences),(5).
Duan Yu.(2010).The general history of Sichuan(Vol.1 Pre-Qin).Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
He Wei.(1994).On the transformation of myths in Qufu(Chuci)to literature.Journal of Sichuan Normal University(Philosophy and Social Sciences),(2).
Li Cheng.(1996).A brief review of Ba-Shu myths and legends.Chengdu:UESTCP.
Lu Xun.(2012).A brief history of Chinese fiction.Beijing:People’s Oriental Publishing&Media.
Meng Wentong.(1981).A tentative discussion on the times and places for the creation of the classics of mountains and seas.In Meng Wentong(Ed.),On the ancient history of Ba-Shu region(pp.146-184).Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
Plaks,Andrew H.(1996).Chinese narratology.Beijing:Peking University Press.
Shi Changyu.(1994).The origin and development of Chinese Xiaoshuo.Beijing:SDX Joint Publishing Company.
Tan Jia.(2013).Why does mythology belong to literary study?-Taking the classification of Western learning in the late Ming and late Qing dynasties the starting point.Journal of Baise University,(6).
Tan Xingguo.(2001).Sichuan literature second to none-Draft of Ba-Shu literature history.Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
Yan Tonglin.(2013).The myth of Du Yu’s transforming to a cuckoo and Ba-Shu literature.Journal of Guo Moruo Studies,(2).
Yuan Ke&Yue Zhen.(1996).A brief study on Ba-Shu mythology.Forum on Chinese Culture,(3).
Yuan Ke.(1982).Textual research in the times and places for the creation of the classic of mountains and seas and its contents.In Yuan Ke(Ed.),Collection of essays on mythology(pp.1-25).Shanghai:Shanghai Guji Press.
Yuan Ke.(1993).General introduction to the Chinese myths.Chengdu:Bashu Book Society.
Zhao Peilin.(2002).On the history of mythology in the Pre-Qin period.Beijing:Xueyuan Press.
Zhao Xin.(2012).Reflection of the“literalization movement”in the study of Chinese mythology.Journal of Yanshan University(Philosophy and Social Science Edition),(3).
Zhong Jingwen(Ed.).(1980).Introduction to folk literature.Shanghai:Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.
(1)Few Ba-Shu literary works in the Pre-Qin period, except myths and legends, were mentioned and recorded in relevant documents. Duan Yu selected four poems from the “Annals of Ba”–the Chronicles of Huayang and included them into the “Ba Culture” chapter of his work the General History of Sichuan(Pre-Qin volume). The four poems respectively concerned farming, sacrifice rite, code of ethics and traditions. According to Duan, these poems “feature the same style and rhythm as those in the Book of Songs; graceful and smooth, they may be created by the Gi clan of Ba people.”(See:Duan, 2010, p. 418). Yet, it remains to be verified whether those poems were created in the Pre-Qin period.
(2)“Mythology, as a form of folk literature, comprises highly imaginative stories created by ancient people to reflect nature, man-nature relationship and social form.”(See:Zhong, 1980, p. 166)
(3)Yuan, 1993, p. 2
(4)Zhao, 2012
(5)Tan, 2013
(1)The highlight of relevant research achievements should arguably be the Ancient Myths of China by Yuan Ke. The book is a “literary work on myths.”“Featuring narration interspersed with comments, it is a collection of myths with research value and outlines a picture of ancient Chinese mythology in a systematic way.”(See:Yuan, 1993, p. 3). Through multiple revisions and reprints, the book was later renamed as Chinese Myths and Legends:From Pangu to Qin Shi Huang.
(2)“The generalized mythological theory…does not at all exclude the multi-disciplinary and multi-layered research in myths from multi-angle back in their creation days. Rather, it is precisely the hard and fruitful research that has enriched this theory.”(See:Yuan, 1993, p. 2).
(1)This inevitably involves a basic prerequisite for the construction of literature history, i.e. what “literature” and “literariness” are. Restricted by the topic and space, this paper cannot elaborate this complicated issue here. And it can only present the following statement:it is understood that the concept of “literature” has varied tremendously with the elapse of time. For example,in the Pre-Qin period,“literature” generally referred to the study of literature and classics; while “literature” in the modern sense originates in Western learning and is in nature a concept primarily concerning linguistic aesthetics. The “literature” in the “general history of regional literature” discussed by this paper mainly refers to this “literature"in general sense. In recent years, such a concept of “literature” has evoked reflection in academic circles. A more general perception of “literature” is preferred by many scholars. This is believed to be the starting point for a possible fundamental change in the landscape of “literature history.” It is fair to say that reflection like this is of enlightening significance. In particular, it helps place literature in a broader perspective for examination. The problem is, if it is necessary to retain literature as a relatively independent research area(which is also a prerequisite for any “literature” history to be valid), there will be an inevitable need to conclude a commanding definition for “literary” phenomena(or “literariness”). Yet, the existing research failed to find any aspects with better commanding effect apart from linguistic aesthetics, although “aesthetics” itself is also a notion covering vast referential space. From this perspective, this paper holds that current writing of literature history still cannot abandon the historical summarization of linguistic aesthetics as its core task. Of course, it is necessary to actively absorb all perspectives and views indirectly related to the core. The degree and scope of this absorption is determined by the expected uniqueness of different categories of literature history. For the category of general history, the perspective of such an absorption can be further expanded but should be under certain restrictions.
(2)Yuan, 1993, pp. 1-2
(3)Yuan, 1993, p. 28
(1)It is true that the Songs of Chu was not developed until the late Warring States period(c. 475-221 BC). Yet, the myths included by Qu Yuan in the book, to a large extent, retained the original style of the myths in the primitive Yuan-Xiang region(Yuan River basin and Xiang River basin).
(2)He, 1994
(3)He, 1994
(4)Yuan&Yue, 1996
(5)Some scholars hold that there must be historical documents on the deeds and lives of the line of kings of the ancient Shu Kingdom, which, however, remains to be confirmed. The documentation of ancient Ba-Shu myths saw significant progress in the Han Dynasty(202 BC-9 AD&25-220 AD). According to “Annals of Ba”–the Chronicles of Huayang by Chang Qu, in the Western Han Dynasty(202 BC-9 AD), there were basic annals of Shu Kings respectively compiled by Sima Xiangru,Yan Junping, Yang Ziyun, Yangcheng Zixuan, Zheng Boyi, Yin Pengcheng, Qiao Zhou and Ren Xi. None of these annals have survived. Yet, it can be inferred from relevant quotes in other books that these annals included many ancient myths. From another perspective, their failure to be passed down also suggests their underappreciation by the then people to some degree.
(1)According to Yuan Ke, of all chapters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the “Classic of the Great Wilderness”(four chapters)and the “Classic of Regions within the Seas”(one chapter)can be traced back to the early or mid-stage of the Warring States period; the “Classic of the Mountains”(five chapters)and the “Classic of Regions Beyond the Seas”(four chapters)were created in the mid to late-stage of the Warring States period; the “Classic of Regions within the Seas”(four chapters)was not created until the early Han Dynasty.(See:Yuan, 1982, pp. 1-25). According to Meng Wentong, of all chapters in the Classics of Mountains and Seas, the “Classic of Regions within the Seas” might have been created in the ancient Shu Kingdom, the “Classic of the Great Wilderness” in the ancient Ba Kingdom; the nine chapters of the “Classic of the Mountains” and “Classic of Regions Beyond the Seas” in the ancient Chu Kingdom, which was under the influence of the ancient Ba-Shu culture.(See:Meng, 1981, pp. 146-184). By contrast, Yuan Ke believes all the authors of the Classics of Mountains and Seas were natives of the ancient Chu Kingdom.(See:Yuan, 1982, pp. 1-25)
(2)There are controversies over the nature of the Classics of Mountains and Seas. This paper is based on the view of Zhao Peilin.(See:Zhao, 2002, pp. 264-276)
(3)Shi, 1994, p. 55
(1)Tan, 2001, p. 14
(2)Tan, 2001, p. 4
(3)Tan, 2001, p. 4
(1)Li, 1996, pp. 96-102
(2)Shi, 1994, p. 55
(1)Plaks, 1996, pp. 42-43
(2)Cheng, 2009
(3)Lu, 2012, p. 12
(1)Yan, 2013
Duan Yu.(2010).The general history of Sichuan(Vol.1 Pre-Qin).Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
He Wei.(1994).On the transformation of myths in Qufu(Chuci)to literature.Journal of Sichuan Normal University(Philosophy and Social Sciences),(2).
Li Cheng.(1996).A brief review of Ba-Shu myths and legends.Chengdu:UESTCP.
Lu Xun.(2012).A brief history of Chinese fiction.Beijing:People’s Oriental Publishing&Media.
Meng Wentong.(1981).A tentative discussion on the times and places for the creation of the classics of mountains and seas.In Meng Wentong(Ed.),On the ancient history of Ba-Shu region(pp.146-184).Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
Plaks,Andrew H.(1996).Chinese narratology.Beijing:Peking University Press.
Shi Changyu.(1994).The origin and development of Chinese Xiaoshuo.Beijing:SDX Joint Publishing Company.
Tan Jia.(2013).Why does mythology belong to literary study?-Taking the classification of Western learning in the late Ming and late Qing dynasties the starting point.Journal of Baise University,(6).
Tan Xingguo.(2001).Sichuan literature second to none-Draft of Ba-Shu literature history.Chengdu:Sichuan People’s Publishing House.
Yan Tonglin.(2013).The myth of Du Yu’s transforming to a cuckoo and Ba-Shu literature.Journal of Guo Moruo Studies,(2).
Yuan Ke&Yue Zhen.(1996).A brief study on Ba-Shu mythology.Forum on Chinese Culture,(3).
Yuan Ke.(1982).Textual research in the times and places for the creation of the classic of mountains and seas and its contents.In Yuan Ke(Ed.),Collection of essays on mythology(pp.1-25).Shanghai:Shanghai Guji Press.
Yuan Ke.(1993).General introduction to the Chinese myths.Chengdu:Bashu Book Society.
Zhao Peilin.(2002).On the history of mythology in the Pre-Qin period.Beijing:Xueyuan Press.
Zhao Xin.(2012).Reflection of the“literalization movement”in the study of Chinese mythology.Journal of Yanshan University(Philosophy and Social Science Edition),(3).
Zhong Jingwen(Ed.).(1980).Introduction to folk literature.Shanghai:Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.
(1)Few Ba-Shu literary works in the Pre-Qin period, except myths and legends, were mentioned and recorded in relevant documents. Duan Yu selected four poems from the “Annals of Ba”–the Chronicles of Huayang and included them into the “Ba Culture” chapter of his work the General History of Sichuan(Pre-Qin volume). The four poems respectively concerned farming, sacrifice rite, code of ethics and traditions. According to Duan, these poems “feature the same style and rhythm as those in the Book of Songs; graceful and smooth, they may be created by the Gi clan of Ba people.”(See:Duan, 2010, p. 418). Yet, it remains to be verified whether those poems were created in the Pre-Qin period.
(2)“Mythology, as a form of folk literature, comprises highly imaginative stories created by ancient people to reflect nature, man-nature relationship and social form.”(See:Zhong, 1980, p. 166)
(3)Yuan, 1993, p. 2
(4)Zhao, 2012
(5)Tan, 2013
(1)The highlight of relevant research achievements should arguably be the Ancient Myths of China by Yuan Ke. The book is a “literary work on myths.”“Featuring narration interspersed with comments, it is a collection of myths with research value and outlines a picture of ancient Chinese mythology in a systematic way.”(See:Yuan, 1993, p. 3). Through multiple revisions and reprints, the book was later renamed as Chinese Myths and Legends:From Pangu to Qin Shi Huang.
(2)“The generalized mythological theory…does not at all exclude the multi-disciplinary and multi-layered research in myths from multi-angle back in their creation days. Rather, it is precisely the hard and fruitful research that has enriched this theory.”(See:Yuan, 1993, p. 2).
(1)This inevitably involves a basic prerequisite for the construction of literature history, i.e. what “literature” and “literariness” are. Restricted by the topic and space, this paper cannot elaborate this complicated issue here. And it can only present the following statement:it is understood that the concept of “literature” has varied tremendously with the elapse of time. For example,in the Pre-Qin period,“literature” generally referred to the study of literature and classics; while “literature” in the modern sense originates in Western learning and is in nature a concept primarily concerning linguistic aesthetics. The “literature” in the “general history of regional literature” discussed by this paper mainly refers to this “literature"in general sense. In recent years, such a concept of “literature” has evoked reflection in academic circles. A more general perception of “literature” is preferred by many scholars. This is believed to be the starting point for a possible fundamental change in the landscape of “literature history.” It is fair to say that reflection like this is of enlightening significance. In particular, it helps place literature in a broader perspective for examination. The problem is, if it is necessary to retain literature as a relatively independent research area(which is also a prerequisite for any “literature” history to be valid), there will be an inevitable need to conclude a commanding definition for “literary” phenomena(or “literariness”). Yet, the existing research failed to find any aspects with better commanding effect apart from linguistic aesthetics, although “aesthetics” itself is also a notion covering vast referential space. From this perspective, this paper holds that current writing of literature history still cannot abandon the historical summarization of linguistic aesthetics as its core task. Of course, it is necessary to actively absorb all perspectives and views indirectly related to the core. The degree and scope of this absorption is determined by the expected uniqueness of different categories of literature history. For the category of general history, the perspective of such an absorption can be further expanded but should be under certain restrictions.
(2)Yuan, 1993, pp. 1-2
(3)Yuan, 1993, p. 28
(1)It is true that the Songs of Chu was not developed until the late Warring States period(c. 475-221 BC). Yet, the myths included by Qu Yuan in the book, to a large extent, retained the original style of the myths in the primitive Yuan-Xiang region(Yuan River basin and Xiang River basin).
(2)He, 1994
(3)He, 1994
(4)Yuan&Yue, 1996
(5)Some scholars hold that there must be historical documents on the deeds and lives of the line of kings of the ancient Shu Kingdom, which, however, remains to be confirmed. The documentation of ancient Ba-Shu myths saw significant progress in the Han Dynasty(202 BC-9 AD&25-220 AD). According to “Annals of Ba”–the Chronicles of Huayang by Chang Qu, in the Western Han Dynasty(202 BC-9 AD), there were basic annals of Shu Kings respectively compiled by Sima Xiangru,Yan Junping, Yang Ziyun, Yangcheng Zixuan, Zheng Boyi, Yin Pengcheng, Qiao Zhou and Ren Xi. None of these annals have survived. Yet, it can be inferred from relevant quotes in other books that these annals included many ancient myths. From another perspective, their failure to be passed down also suggests their underappreciation by the then people to some degree.
(1)According to Yuan Ke, of all chapters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the “Classic of the Great Wilderness”(four chapters)and the “Classic of Regions within the Seas”(one chapter)can be traced back to the early or mid-stage of the Warring States period; the “Classic of the Mountains”(five chapters)and the “Classic of Regions Beyond the Seas”(four chapters)were created in the mid to late-stage of the Warring States period; the “Classic of Regions within the Seas”(four chapters)was not created until the early Han Dynasty.(See:Yuan, 1982, pp. 1-25). According to Meng Wentong, of all chapters in the Classics of Mountains and Seas, the “Classic of Regions within the Seas” might have been created in the ancient Shu Kingdom, the “Classic of the Great Wilderness” in the ancient Ba Kingdom; the nine chapters of the “Classic of the Mountains” and “Classic of Regions Beyond the Seas” in the ancient Chu Kingdom, which was under the influence of the ancient Ba-Shu culture.(See:Meng, 1981, pp. 146-184). By contrast, Yuan Ke believes all the authors of the Classics of Mountains and Seas were natives of the ancient Chu Kingdom.(See:Yuan, 1982, pp. 1-25)
(2)There are controversies over the nature of the Classics of Mountains and Seas. This paper is based on the view of Zhao Peilin.(See:Zhao, 2002, pp. 264-276)
(3)Shi, 1994, p. 55
(1)Tan, 2001, p. 14
(2)Tan, 2001, p. 4
(3)Tan, 2001, p. 4
(1)Li, 1996, pp. 96-102
(2)Shi, 1994, p. 55
(1)Plaks, 1996, pp. 42-43
(2)Cheng, 2009
(3)Lu, 2012, p. 12
(1)Yan, 2013