A Study of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Folktale

• Main Authors: Su O Wu, 吳素娥
• Other Authors: Tzu Hung Cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/84376167645627480181

碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 中國文學研究所 === 98 === ABSTRACT The topic of the present study is “A Study of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Folktale”. The Eight Immortals, respectively named as Zhang Guo-lao, Zhung Li-quan, Lu Dong-bin, Li Tie-guai, Han Xiang-zi, Lan Cai-he, He Xian-gu, Cao Guo-jiu, are a group of celestials in Chinese mythology. Some of them are said to have been found in history, while the fictitious ones were created with the original characters. It took a long process of deduction and evolution from the initiation of names to the formation of true characters. From Tang Dynasty to Ming Dynasty, the Eight Immortals had been extensively described mainly in literary documents, such as in religious literatures, Chinese opera like Zaju and Xiqu, and in historical novels. Nowadays, the Eight Immortals are popular and favored as the auspicious symbolization of Luck, Wealth, Longevity and Happiness. Therefore, to truly understand the Eight Immortals in civil society, a folktale analysis of the Eight Immortals on the basis of folk literature has been established as a new aspect in the study of Chinese folklore. Research method of the present study includes a genre analysis based on the “Motif” and “Type’’ of the folktale. The so-called “motif” refers to “a recurring element in a story that has a complete narration and cannot be divided into a more detailed plot.” It is needed to classify such element as a motif in order to conduct the micro analysis of the present study. As for the “type” analysis, on the other hand, it refers to the macro analysis that “analyzes the content and construction of the whole folktale, collects the similarities of several stories which primarily share the same construction with minor differences in its detailed plots, and classifies the similarities as a distinctive type.” Conducting a type analysis is useful for the researcher to have a simplified process dealing with a massive amount of data sources. The present study is composed of six chapters. Chapter One is the introduction, which includes the rationale and purpose of the study, along with the results discovered from previous research studies. Chapter Two then discusses the origin, evolution and formation of the Eight Immortals. This chapter sets out the argumentation from the initiation of the names and the occurrences of the characters, to the finalization of the characters, which all can be traced back to the history, legendry, religion, ancestry and folk spirits. Chapter Three relates to the motif analysis of the folklore about the Eight Immortals. The collection and classification of the folklore data in the motif analysis is presented in the Index of Motifs in the Folktales of the Eight Immortals attached in the appendix. Chapter Four is associated with type analysis, in which the universal types in the folklore of Eight Immortals and the folklore of the formation of the Eight Immortals are explicitly discussed. An Index of Types in the Folktales of the Eight Immortals is attached in the appendix as well. Chapter Five is mainly about the theme concept of the folktales of the Eight Immortals. There are four theme concepts presented among the folktales of the Eight Immortals: (a) poverty—as the happiness of life, (b) illness—as the best cure, (c) dream—as the ultimate achievement , and (d) celestial—as the final resort. These concepts attempt to discuss the relationship among celestial, immortality and human beings, as well as the most important issues of life—birth, aging, illness and death. In addition, the life attitude that people should possess—the development of morality and longevity—is also included based on one’s self-consciousness. Chapter Six is the conclusion of the study, which illustrates the value and impact of the folklore of the Eight Immortals. Keywords: Eight Immortals, folklore, oral lores, folktale, legend, motif, type