从顽童到元帅：论《封神演义》中哪吒的佛道二重形象 = FROM A NAUGHTY CHILD TO A MARSHAL: ON THE DAOIST AND BUDDHIST IMAGES OF NEZHA IN THE FENGSHEN YANYI

Abstract

In the Ming novel, Fengshen Yanyi, one of the main characters, Nezha, is able to present an image of dual religions, Buddhism and Daoism throughout the different stages of his life. The aim of this essay is to discuss the presentation of this dual image at various stages and to observe the shifting between Buddhism and Daoism. In this essay, Nezha's entire life in theFengshen yanyi is divided into five stages, that is, the "Newborn", the "Naughty Child", the "Orphan Spirit", the "Revived", and the "Marshal". In the first two stages, a higher ratio of Buddhist elements is observed. However, as Nezha’s life journey in the Fengshen yanyi progresses, the Daoist elements soon begins to catch up and even overtake, starting from the third stage. It results in a heavier Daoist element that is very different from what that is presented in the beginning. This has resulted in a changing image of Nezha as the Buddhist elements in him undergo a “Daoist” process. In the later stages of his life, Nezha slowly loses his Buddhist root and becomes eventually known more commonly as a Taoist deity today.