從「品花寶鑑」探討清代相公之研究

A Study of Ching Androgynous Actors as Depicted in A History of Floral Treasures

《品花寶鑑》是清代描寫戲劇演員生活之長篇小說，亦可謂是一部描述清代男同性戀生活之資料。從史料中可知清代相公，是一種不被社會尊重之職業，；作者描寫清代相公之生活，頗為傳神。從中可知清代相公之興盛與狎暱相公之風九，對當時人們而言，是一種附庸風雅，成為對清代愛好戲劇，相關應而生之種庶民化。《品花寶鑑》寫出理想生活中之相公與社會士人之感情生活，而吾人可以從中得到許多關於當時相公生活之片段，更為研究清代戲劇史、社會史提供寶貴之線索。本論文探討主題有二：一、明清之際男性旦角演變至相公及其美色之由，並探討《品花寶鑑》中清代社會喜好男色心態與相公本身「陰柔」之特質、轉變與影響。二、分析《品花寶鑑》中「相公」之歷史背景，探究清代士人對「相公」之特殊態度，與書中角色情愛之互動關係，藉以明白清代社會好「相公」之風，實其來有自。

A History of Floral Treasures (pin hua pao chien 品花寶鑑) is a novel depicting the lives of actors in Ching Dynasty, which includes much information about male homosexuality at that time. According to historical accounts of Ching, acting was not a respectable occupation, however, the novel reveals a popular fashion in patronizing androgynous actors, or male prostitutes in some cases, in the society. With its rich descriptions of physical and emotional relationships between androgynous actors/prostitutes and intellectuals, A History of Floral Treasures provides valuable clues to the social and theatrical aspects of the Ching society. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, this paper explores how actors in late Ming and early Ching became male prostitutes, how male homosexuality took root in the Ching society, and how male prostitutes took on feminine characteristics, and how they influenced the society. Second, this paper analyzes the historical background of male prostitutes in A History of Floral Treasures, the attitudes of their patrons, mostly intellectuals, and the erotic interactions between characters in the novel. The analysis shows that there were good reasons for such a craze for androgynous actors/prostitutes.