海洋作為一種「視野」——台灣鄭和傳說中的文化他者與想像

Cross-regional Vision of Oceanic Experience: “The other” Discourse of Zheng He legends in Taiwan

本論文將借重曹永和先生「台灣島史」觀察，論述自然環境—海洋如何成為一種「視野」，一種特定的觀看姿態，從中思索書寫或傳達海洋經驗的跨文化關係。本文旨從區域性觀點，旁及歷史因緣下海洋的開放／隔絕特質，探究台灣鄭和傳說中的文化他者與想像。鄭和傳說，是台灣與東南亞區域共享的文化資源，其中流傳的「造物者」與「桃花源」話語模式，說明鄭和與當地土著互動的氛圍，也補充了敘事學在文學文化研究的面向。然而，鄭和沒有來台的「事實」愈辯愈明，這些歷久彌新的傳說又如何被建構？把此問題置於整個下西洋區域，發現此區有著普遍溼熱氣候，再加上華夷論述機制，異己再現，分享共同的文化結構，替虛構性極大的台灣鄭和傳說，留下可資驗證的真實。此外，《三寶太監西洋記通俗演義》則從此區域的性別觀感，開啟鄭和與異己應對之面貌，相較於史書文獻「正義凜然」之記載，出現了被女兒國國王強娶，突顯女王性需求，而與鄭和的宦官身分形成反差等戲謔書寫，這也使得官方史籍、民間傳說、通俗演義中的鄭和，虛實相間，展開了海洋視域下番人形象、歷史情境與文化詮釋的辨證。這些「傳」說的衍義與傳播，已與台灣歷史、文化、社會結構等面向交會，並內化為台灣文史的重要部分。本文希冀這些觀點的嘗試，能在「鄭和來台」的討論外，開啟另一種以「海洋」視野探究台灣文史的可能性。

The point of view in this essay is to show how the aborigines’appearance in Zheng He legends. If we compare the legends in South EastAsia region with those in Taiwan, we will find some interesting observations.First, there are the same plot and narration in Zheng He legends. Whateverstories told by people living in South East Asia region or Taiwan are alike.Second, people who told or recorded the legends always stress theimportance of edification by Zheng He. Therefore, the appearances ofaboriginals are represented as barbarian or wild man. Besides, in terms ofresearch, scholars give a challenge to discuss the “truth” of Zheng He thathad been to Taiwan. As a matter of fact, the legends of Zheng He may be“create” by certain reasons. Why and how the legends about Zheng He edifyTaiwan aboriginal to be true? If we take the viewpoint of ocean— a crossregionalvision of oceanic experience, we may find the legends are “true”as a result of particular “other” discourse. Finally, the image of Zheng Heis always represented as a wise man in historical records, however, ZhengHe’s appearence in popular novel is grotesque. The latter is full of tension.On the basis of humid weather and gender idea in South East Asia, the“other” discourse of Zheng He legends in Taiwan is created by the cross regional vision of oceanic experience. It’s a new eyesight to investigate theTaiwan’s literature and history.