唐代小說中異僧形象特質探析

The Characteristics of Bizarre Monks Portrayed in Tang Tales

王麗雯(Li-Wen Wang)

指導教授 ： 康韻梅

國立臺灣大學/文學院/中國文學研究所/碩士(2015年)

https://doi.org/10.6342/NTU.2015.00954

摘要

本文以《太平廣記》「異僧」類小說為觀察出發點，進而擴大規模蒐羅所有唐代小說，考察相關文本所展現的異僧特質。藉由生命姿態、能力表現、社會身分三大不同主題的探討，試圖更為整體、深入地析述異僧駁雜的形象特質。首先，異僧苦修、癲狂、重情之生命姿態既涉及宗教修行經驗，亦有對世俗人性情感的觀照省思。執著苦修的聖徒與瘋癲怪異的狂僧看似大相逕庭，實可說是宗教修行的一體兩面，而重情僧人的出現似為唐代小說始創，藉異僧親身入世歷幻，自度度人的過程顯豁人與人之間深摯的情意交流。其次，異僧能力表現可概分為肉身異相、方技術數、以及他界遊歷見聞等三大範疇，這些神技奇藝琳琅駁雜，幾乎涵括方技術數中各門學問，為佛、道、巫文化之交互雜揉，展露佛教日漸中國化、俗信化的一面。最後，士僧、俠僧、胡僧、精怪僧四類異僧，其「異」正在於其雙重異質之身分。「僧」是一種神秘性與包容性兼具的社會身分，如廣大容器容納各式人物階級、身分經驗交相混融的想像可能，而異僧身分之構設，也往往反映當代對於隱逸、盜匪、華夷、魅怪等意識形態投射。異僧之「異」，既有士人撰述奇事之異，亦有宗教「神異」的教理評判與文化差異之多元內涵。希望藉由本文對異僧三大主題面向之述論，為唐代小說的異僧群像提供一兼具文本詮釋與相關文化探析的研究參考。

關鍵字

唐代小說 ； 異僧 ； 生命姿態 ； 神異 ； 身分

並列摘要

Buddhist monks constitute an important and complicated group of characters in classic Chinese novels, but have received insufficient attention thus far. From the sacred descriptions found in hagiography and the mystic stories of the six dynasties, to the greedy, licentious images portrayed by the vernacular novels of Ming and Qing, it seems that the image of Buddhist monks in novels has greatly transformed over time, and that monks portrayed in Tang tales seem more lacking of compilation and discussion.

However, in Taiping guangji, the most complete compilation of Tang tales, there are 12 volumes (volumes 87–98) dedicated to “bizarre monks” (yiseng), depicting Tang Buddhist monks in abundant ways. Moreover, descriptions of bizarre monks are not limited to volumes 87–98, but are widespread across all of the books. Why are these monks considered “bizarre”? How do the tales present their personalities and interactions with other characters? What is the meaning behind them? These complex characterizations, intersecting with various cultural and religious issues, are worthy of more detailed research.

Therefore, this essay identifies the characteristics of bizarre monks on the basis of the compilation of related texts, and analyses the following three themes, attempting to interpret the basic traits of bizarre monks portrayed in Tang tales: The one is personality including asceticism, insanity, and affection; another one is versatile thaumaturgy mixed with Daoism and traditional beliefs; the other one is special affiliated identity such as scholar, knight-errant, foreigner, and monster.

並列關鍵字

Tang Tales ； Bizarre Monks ； Personality ； Thaumaturgy ； Identity

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