由器而“道”——论古代小说中照妖镜的演化

儒道两家对妖异来源的不同认知和处理方式,决定了照妖镜叙事中的常镜与神镜之别;在阴阳生克、君臣伦理的秩序中,照妖镜能量和功用被放大,由器而"道",成为象征道教秩序的乾元宝镜。照妖镜经历了由工具崇拜、镜像巫术,到道士捉妖等宗教层面的演化,又因小说的影响而成为精神文化和民族心理的具象体现。它在神魔小说中的夸诞变形有文化认识的价值。道家以镜为喻的认识论是照妖镜演变的合理性依据。

Form Utensils to Tao: Development of Monster-detector in Ancient Fictions

The difference between normal mirrors and monster-detector in the stories of magic mirrors is decided by the difference between Confucianism and Taoism in their view and disposal of monsters;in the systems where yin-yang thoughts and the ethics between the monarch and his subjects play an important role,the power of monster-detector is magnified,they are considered as not only utensils but also Tao,and then came the qianyuanbaojing(乾元宝镜) which emblematizes the Taoism system.In the religious dimension,Monster-detector went through a development from utensil worship,mirror witchcraft to monster-catching activities of Taoist priests;while in the cultural dimension,they became an embodiment of national mentality thanks to the influence of fictions.The exaggeration and transformation of magic mirrors in fiction of gods and demons bears considerable value in cultural understanding.The Taoism epistemology which uses mirrors as metaphors is the logical foundation of the development of monster-detector.