唐代豪俠小說敘事創造的命運觀照

Abstract

唐傳奇是小說發展始成熟的里程碑，小說的創造意義在於作者能融合時代思想並回應黎民百姓的渴望，晚唐的百姓對政治環境的失落以及對現實的無能為力促使作者筆下誕生了為百姓解救困厄的豪俠人物。創作者本於真實生活的所見所感去塑造出一個又一個承載集體潛意識的希冀及理想投射的豪俠人物，藉由敘事創造讓豪俠的言行舉止及命運選擇引領著我們在顛沛流離中找回自己，觀照自身的命運。宋代的小說整理編輯者李昉等人在《太平廣記》中將豪俠分類為獨立的主題類型。歷來學界對唐傳奇的豪俠小說研究中，著重於兩點：一是俠的稱謂與形象變化，探討從《史記》的游俠、刺客發展至唐代豪俠的特質承接與變化。二是人物形象方面，大多以性別分類為男俠、女俠，或是以武藝及立身方法分類為仁俠、盜俠、劍俠等等，較少深入研究豪俠人物的內在意志與命運選擇。本論文欲聚焦於探討豪俠小說中人物的意志和面對命運的觀照方式，並從而理解創作者如何藉由敘事創造出豪俠的自我價值來展演命運，並在人我關係的互動中觀看他人的態度，也回望自己的意志選擇。主要將豪俠人物觀照命運的方式分為三個面向：自我價值的命運觀照、群己關係的命運觀照以及善惡辯證的命運觀照。先由個人內在認知影響至外在行為的表現，再由個人意志的選擇擴展至社會群體互動，最後從行事的動機和最終的結果去理解豪俠人物在情感與道德、個人與體制之間所面臨的抉擇困境，呈現其內在善與惡之間的倫理張力與人性掙扎。唐代豪俠義無反顧地承擔了選擇的美好與遺憾，演繹了由內而外的命運觀照進程，至今亦能作為我們自我省思並與現代社會互動的價值命題參考。Tang chuanqi represents a milestone in the maturation of Chinese fiction. The creative significance of fiction lies in enabling the author to synthesize the ideological spirit of the era while responding to the aspirations of the people. In the late Tang period, widespread disillusionment with the political climate and a sense of powerlessness in the face of reality prompted the emergence of chivalric figures in literature—heroes who offered deliverance from adversity on behalf of the people. These characters were shaped by authors based on observations and experiences from real life, and they served as vehicles for the projection of collective subconscious desires and ideals. Through narrative construction, the words, actions, and choices of these heroes guide readers through turbulent times, enabling them to rediscover themselves and reflect upon their own destiny. During the Song dynasty, editors such as Li Fang categorized chivalric fiction as a distinct thematic genre in the Taiping Guangji (Extensive Records of the Taiping Era). Scholarly research on Tang chuanqi chivalric tales has typically focused on two main areas: first, the evolution of the concept and imagery of the xia (individual who helps others in need), tracing its development from the youxia (wandering vigilante) and assassins of the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) to the chivalric figures of the Tang; second, the classification of character types, most often based on gender—such as male and female xia—or on martial skill and moral orientation, such as benevolent xia, outlaw xia, and sword-wielding xia. However, relatively little attention has been given to the volition of these characters and their choices in confronting fate.This study examined the volition of chivalric figures in Tang fiction and their approaches to contemplating fate. It sought to clarify how authors, through narrative construction, shaped the self-worth of these heroes as a means to enact fate, while also portraying their engagement with others and reflecting on their own choices. The contemplation of fate by these chivalric figures was categorized into three dimensions: the contemplation of fate through self-worth, through interpersonal relations, and through the dialectics of good and evil. The analysis began with how internal cognition influences external behavior, progressed to how individual volition extends into social interaction, and culminated in an exploration of how motivations and outcomes reveal the ethical tensions and human struggles between emotion and morality and between individual agency and institutional constraints. The Tang chivalric heroes embraced both the fulfillment and regret of their choices without hesitation, enacting a process of fate contemplation that moves from the internal to the external. Even today, their narratives offer valuable insights for self-reflection and engagement with contemporary society.