從鄭溪泮、賴仁聲到王貞文──台語文學的基督教向度

Abstract

當談論台語文學，論者大多會強調台語文學的政治面向，並談論自1980年代台灣文學論戰以降的台語文運動脈絡。然在台語文運動中，基督教的影響是相當顯著且巨大的。其影響可上溯自19世紀末白話字引進台灣，經歷外籍宣教士汲取本地經驗的創作，並在日本時代出現本土作者，遂使白話字本土化而形成「白話字文學」，並持續有作品產出至戰後1960年代。本文將探討這些清末至日本時代以降的白話字文學對台灣文學、台語文學的開創，並觀看白話字文學在面對台灣當時詭譎的政治社會氣氛，如何回應時代的困境，並持續透過信徒的參與及實踐發揮其影響。台灣基督長老教會作為白話字的長期使用者，其所建構的白話字文化是至關重要。白話字文化不僅是長老教會早期宣教的利器，白話字在教會內廣為流通以後，也成為長老教會能不受政權更迭影響而持續有創作產出的關鍵。縱使1950年代國民黨政府撤退來台使國內政局變化，及1970年代中華民國退出聯合國後政治局勢動盪，致使長老教會內外皆遭受許多壓力，而企圖在宣教方針上有所調整，但也在動盪而詭譎的情勢中形塑出「處境化神學」，而成為往後長老教會宣教的根基及中心思想，影響當時代長老教會信徒的社會參與，進而形塑包括王貞文在內的牧者及信徒的神學思考及信仰實踐。尤其長老教會信徒及牧者在1980年代後積極投入台語文運動，也設立「族群母語推行委員會」並培育母語種子教師，都成為台語文運動的重要推手及支柱。日本時代的作者如鄭溪泮及賴仁聲，不僅對白話字文學有極大的開創，對後世的台語文學也有其貢獻。首先，小說部分分別是以《出死線》及《俺娘的目屎》，成為台灣最早的兩部長篇及中長篇小說，開創台灣現代小說新頁；尤其賴仁聲的小說創作直至1960年代都仍有發表及出版，而未受戰後政權更迭、語言轉換影響。第二則可見這些白話字文學在1970年代台灣意識逐漸凝聚時，白話字文學不僅成為語言學習的管道，也被台語文運動所吸收，成為台語文字化的實驗方案，並在日後促成「漢羅合寫」的出現，進而影響當代台語文運動。而王貞文是本文的另一個焦點，不僅承續長老教會處境化神學的神學思潮，以基督教神學的眼光關懷社會中受欺壓及忽視的女性、政治受難者及弱勢，同時也呈現1980年代以降台語文運動的風潮。處境化神學以及台語文運動在王貞文的身上交會，產生《天使》這部台語小說集，其中所收錄的小說表現出王貞文具宗教關懷的普世精神，以及其入世的神學視野，而不同於當代的台語小說。最後，比較鄭溪泮、賴仁聲及王貞文三人的詩歌，從鄭溪泮及賴仁聲兩人的詩歌可以看見白話字文學本土化的歷程，以及基督教本土化的成果；兩人的詩歌後來也被收錄在《聖詩》之中，被傳唱至今。而《聖詩》也是白話字文學及基督教本土化的另一指標，不只收錄包括鄭溪泮、賴仁聲在內的本土作者的詩作，也成為後世信徒接觸白話字詩歌及台語文學的重要管道；王貞文以台語創作也有受《聖詩》啟發，不僅同樣有詩作收錄《聖詩》，其處境化神學的關懷視野也影響其詩作，由詩集《檸檬蜜茶》中也得見其容納神學及現代詩的詩風，是不同於鄭溪泮、賴仁聲及當代台語詩人的詩歌，而呈現獨特的風貌。因此，由小說的發展及詩歌的演變，便能清楚看見基督教的白話字文學對台語文學的影響以及延續。白話字文學不只將台語文創作的能量自日本時代延續至戰後，也成為1980年代台語文運動中，極為重要的能量來源；而長老教會信徒及牧者的參與，也豐富今日台語文學光景，而成為其中不可或缺的元素。透過本文研究，期待能理清白話字文學在台語文學之中所扮演的角色，同時也重新梳理鄭溪泮、賴仁聲及王貞文三人在之中的貢獻及價值。望不僅能再次定錨白話字文學在台語文學中的價值定位，也重新詮釋鄭溪泮、賴仁聲及王貞文三人的台語文學創作，開闊台灣文學、台語文學的視野。

In discussing Taiwanese literature, most commentators emphasize its political dimensions, particularly focusing on the Taiwanese language movement that gained momentum after the literary debates of the 1980s. However, Christianity has also played a significant role, traceable back to the introduction of POJ (Pe̍h-ōe-jī) characters to Taiwan by foreign missionaries in the late 19th century. During the Japanese colonial period, local authors adapted and localized these characters, creating"POJ literature," which continued to flourish until the 1960s. This research investigates the impact of POJ literature from the late Qing Dynasty through the Japanese colonial period on Taiwanese literature. It examines how POJ literature responded to Taiwan's unique political and social conditions and how its use by believers continued to exert influence. The Taiwan Presbyterian Church, a prominent user of POJ characters, built a significant POJ culture. This culture facilitated early missionary work and became a resilient foundation for creative output, even amid political changes in the 1950s and 1970s. The church's adaptation to these changes gave rise to "Contextual Theology," which influenced the social participation and theological thinking of its members. Authors such as Tēnn Khe-phuàn and Luā Jîn-sing made substantial contributions to POJ literature during the Japanese colonial period. Their novels, including "Tshut Sí-suànn" and "Án-niá ê Ba̍k-sái," were pioneering works in Taiwan's modern literary landscape. Despite regime changes post-World War II, these works remained influential. In the 1970s,as Taiwanese consciousness solidified, POJ literature became a vital tool for language learning and the Taiwanese language movement, contributing to the development of"Han-Romanization mixed script." Ông Tsing-bûn, another focal point of this study, merged the theological trend of Contextual Theology with the Taiwanese language movement. Her work, "Thinn-sài," reflects her commitment to marginalized groups and political victims from a Christian theological perspective. Her participation in the Taiwanese language movement, particularly through the establishment of the "Promote Taiwan’s Mother Tongue Committee," underscores her influence. Comparing the poems ofTēnn Khe-phuàn, Luā Jîn-sing, and Ông Tsing-bûn reveals the localization process of POJ literature and Christianity. Many of their poems are included in the"Hymns," which continue to be sung today. These hymns not only showcase local authors' works but also serve as a critical medium for subsequent generations to engage with POJ poetry and Taiwanese literature. Ông Tsing-bûn’s theological and poetic contributions, as seen in her collection "Le-bóng Bi̍t-tê," illustrate a unique blend of theology and modern poetry, distinct from her predecessors. Thus, the development of novels and the evolution of poetry highlight the enduring influence of Christian POJ literature on Taiwanese literature. POJ literature sustained the vitality of Taiwanese language creation from the Japanese era into the post-war period and became a crucial element in the Taiwanese language movement of the 1980s. The involvement of Presbyterian Church members enriched the landscape of Taiwanese language literature, making it an indispensable component.This thesis aims to clarify the role of POJ literature in Taiwanese literature, emphasizing the contributions and values of Tēnn Khe-phuàn, Luā Jîn-sing, and Ông Tsing-bûn. It seeks to reaffirm the significance of POJ literature in Taiwanese literary history and reinterpret the works of these key figures to broaden the understanding of Taiwanese literature.