从《水浒传》看传统中国下层民众的社会理想

《水浒传》是一部以民众武装反叛、暴力对抗官府为主要叙述內容的小说。作为市场化的通俗文艺作品,《水浒传》的接受主体是普通的社会大众,因此《水浒传》的广泛流播,折射出下层民众所追求的社会理想,即希冀快意恩仇、能够酣畅淋漓地满足物质一肉体欲望,对团结互助、充满友爱之情的理想人际关系的追求,和对保障人身安全与安居乐业的理想秩序的向往。考察这部小说及其传播表现的社会理想,是探索中国“小传统”文化中社会思想的有效途径,有助于我们把握民间社会思想的特点及其对当代中国民众的影响。

On the Ancient Social Idea of China Lower Strata Masses in All Men Are Brothers

All Men Are Brothers, a great traditional and popular novel with the content of China lower strata masses' antagonism to the officials, reflects the social ideal of ancient China lower strata masses, which means to fill their requirements for fortune and carnal desires, to aspire after perfect human relationships, such as solidarity, mutual aiding, and brotherly treating of each other, and ideal and fair social order. It is an effective method to probe China ancient social thought in the folk cultural tradition by studying this novel and its spreading, and it is also helpful for us to understand the characteristics of folk social thought and its influence on the masses of today.