謝佳瀅。〈論《笑府》與《笑林廣記》中「慳吝待客」笑話之流變〉。《民俗曲藝》229 (2025.9): 209–32。
Hsieh Chia-ying. “Textual Variations of “Miserly Host” Tales in the Xiaofu and Xiaolin Guangji Jestbooks.” Journal of Chinese Ritual, Theatre and Folklore 229 (2025.9): 209–32.
Abstract
馮夢龍《笑府》將慳吝待客笑話列於「刺俗部」和「日用部」，重刺╱醫俗作用，以「批曰」自述看法、於「一說」串場，指引閱讀聲音強烈；遊戲主人《笑林廣記》「貪吝部」客觀敘述人性；江盈科《雪濤諧史》多於文末說明內容或來源。三書同一笑話以對話、懸疑、反諷呈現不同重點和目的，故論明清慳吝待客笑話之敘事意義與流變過程有其重要性與價值。
一、刺俗與醫俗：請╱留客之難。《雪濤諧史》「不請客」、《笑府•不請客》之鄰向吝者奴直刺主吝，不可能許日設宴；《笑林廣記•許日子》僕於河邊洗碗，鄰問僕吝者請客否？答須待後世，有乖訛效果。《笑府•不請客 又》、《笑林廣記•請神》道士請遠神，以請客╱神之喻反諷近神皆知吝者；《笑府•門神》、《笑林廣記•白伺候》以夜遊神和門神對話諷主未尊客，門神╱客之喻降格神祇之神聖。《雪濤諧史》「殺馬乘雞」之主言乏物待客，《笑林廣記》、《笑府》〈不留客〉客知主吝宰家禽請客，故借主刀諷之，反轉坐騎與食物功能；雞鴨滿庭則以知主吝與否形成諷刺和懸疑。二、日用之吝：待客酒食簡陋。《笑府•淡酒》、《笑林廣記•酒煮滚湯》客杜撰菜名，嘲主吝備待客佳餚；《笑府•淡酒 又》、《笑林廣記•淡酒》主客問答帶出客索主刀殺壺，解淡酒水氣之反諷和趣味；《笑府》「批曰」、《笑林廣記•淡水》以河╱海水喻淡╱濃酒，藉海魚答侍者╱接待者之問諷河魚慳吝待客。
This study aims to elucidate the importance of textual variations within humorous tales concerning “miserly hosts” presented in the Ming-Qing jestbooks entitled Xiaofu 笑府 (The Treasury of Laughs), Xiaolin guangji 笑林廣記 (Expanded Forest of Laughs), and Xuetao xieshi 雪濤諧史 (Humorous History of Xuetao). By examining the diverse iterations of these tales, this study underscores how each text employs distinct editorial strategies and serves unique purposes, thereby offering varied representations of the same stories. In particular, Feng Menglong’s 馮夢龍 Xiaofu arranges tales about miserly hosts into chapters entitled “Mocking Vulgarity” (cisu 刺俗) and “Daily Necessities” (riyong 日用). This organization reflects a dual objective, ci 刺 (to critique) and/or yi 醫 (to heal), thereby emphasizing the moral lessons embedded within these humorous narratives. In contrast, Youxi Zhuren 遊戲主人, the compiler of Xiaolin guangji, adopts a more neutral tone in recounting these tales, portraying miserliness as an intrinsic aspect of human nature and categorizing jests under the chapter “Miserly” (tanlin 貪吝). Jiang Yingke’s 江盈科 Xuetao xieshi typically includes elaborations and source information at the end of these tales, further differentiating his approach from those of his counterparts. This study’s comparative analysis reveals how jestbooks utilize various literary devices—including dialogue, suspense, and sarcasm—to tell the same tales from different angles, thereby reflecting the perspectives of the narrators or compilers. By examining textual variations in tales about miserly hosts, it becomes possible to better discern the literary values of Ming-Qing jestbooks.