牡丹社事件中的郭占鰲及其民間傳說之探究

Guo Zhanao in Peony Society Event and the Folklore

同治13年（1874）牡丹社事件發生，日軍侵台。當時身在枋寮，扮演事前偵測、事後奉令召集番社撫綏之人物－－武官郭占鰲，緣於他的位階小，不受重視，再加上史料有限，因此一向被忽略，然為何郭占鰲卻在台灣後堆民間出現較多的傳說？本文即以郭占鰲為議題，蒐集清廷官方檔案、日軍征戰記錄、近人論述與相關傳說等，比對分析，研究郭占鰲的軍職、牡丹社事件時的郭占鰲及其軼事傳說等面向，得出結論：1、有關傳說以為郭占鰲為同治13年日軍侵台時的南部司令，究其實是枋寮汛千總。2、郭占鰲是身在第一線，最接近敵營的清朝武將，其重要性不言而喻，亦與之前來台暗訪的日人建立起交情。往後數次往返日人軍營探查情報，安穩民心，加入台灣南路開山撫番等事宜，扮演起當時不可或缺的角色。3、郭占鰲為後堆內埔美和村人士，亦是清末後堆少見的武官，在牡丹社事件中，與日人、原住民皆有接觸。他的事蹟經由後人附會渲染，衍生出後堆地區的郭占鰲傳說。其傳說分為救助日人、解除美和村被燒村的危機、智取生番、蛇精元神、後代衰微五類。綜觀民間傳說中郭占鰲的英雄特徵，使其不再只是事件中聽命行事的武官，而是以更清楚鮮明的形象呈現，凸顯郭占鰲雖是小人物卻不平凡之特性。

Peony society events occurred in the 13th year of Tongzhi period (1874). Japanese forces invaded Taiwan. Guo Zhanao, as military officer, was in fang Laos at that time. He is merely a petty official, and not so many documents found about his contribution, so he is not placed in an important role. But, why he became a legend? After researched on the official documentation, war records, dictations from later generation and related folklore, the conclusions are as below: 1. The folklore wrongly recorded Guo Zhanao as commander of the southern area in the 13th year of Tongzhi period. Actually the commander is Xun Qianzong. 2. Guo Zhanao was in the frontline battlefield. He played an important role in the collection of enemy’s situation or movement. 3. Guo Zhanao was origin Meiho village in Neipu where the military officer is rare. In Peony society event, he had lots of contact with Japanese and aborigines. His brave acts and spirit of saving the nation were spread out by the later generation of that area.