日本「桃太郎」傳說故事的原像──雉雞‧雞的民俗信仰論

The Truth of Japanese Legend Momotarou: Pheasant and Chicken's Folk Custom

據世間流傳的「桃太郎」傳說故事所說，從河上游漂流而來的大桃子，迸出了一小孩，取名為「桃太郎」，其漸長，孔武有力，就在那時，住在「鬼島」的眾鬼時而渡過海，來到桃太郎所住的村莊，殺人、掠奪財物，桃太郎因此下定決心，赴鬼島，征服兇惡的眾鬼。故事中說，桃太郎向其老邁的爺爺、奶奶要了黃米做的飯團（黍團子）後，在途中，首先遇到了一斑犬，次為猴子與雉雞，桃太郎一一給了一個黃米飯團，納為家將，共赴「鬼島」，征服眾鬼，凱旋歸來。問題是故事中的主人翁桃太郎征討「鬼島」，為何獨選斑犬、猴子與雉雞為隨從合力打鬼？犬、猴子與雉雞的背後又有何特別意義？本論文特以雉雞、雞為主題，從古來民間傳承、及信仰的角度探討其真諦。又其內容大致有如下：1、緒言2、日本古文獻中之雉雞3、雞的古傳承與信仰4、中國古來民間信仰之雞5、日本民俗‧信仰中之雞6、結論。

According to the Japanese Legend of Momotarou, a big baby came out of a big peach which was floating down the river. His name was Momotarou, he grew and grew quickly to be a strong boy. At that time, the orgres that lived on Orgre's Island frequently came across the sea to the village where Momotarou lived. The orgres slain and seized the village. So he has made up his mind to go to the Orgre's Island and conquer the evil orgres. In the story, Momotarou asked his parents to make some millet dumplings. On his way, first he met a dog and then he met a pheasant and a monkey. Momotarou gave them a millet dumpling individually and then they became Momotarou's followers. They went to the Orgre's Island together and came home honorably after conquered the orgres. The problem is why the leading role, Momotarou, alone choose dog, monkey and pheasant to conquer the Orgre's Island? What is the hidden meaning of dog, monkey and pheasant? This paper only takes pheasant and chicken as the theme to treat about the truth from the angle of folk custom and religion. The contents are as follows:l.Foreword 2.The pheasant in the Japanese papyrus 3. The chicken' legend and brief 4. The chicken in Chinese folk custom and brief 5. The chicken in Japanese folk custom and brief 6. Conclusion