“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)”與日游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)相(xiang)(xiang)反,是(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)國民(min)(min)(min)間信(xin)仰(yang)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)司夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)之(zhi)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)。關于司夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)之(zhi)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)的(de)(de)(de)(de)記載最早(zao)見于《山海經(jing)·海外南(nan)經(jing)》,說(shuo)(shuo)有神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)人(ren)十六位,彼此(ci)胳膊相(xiang)(xiang)連,為天帝司夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye),形象上稱(cheng)他們(men)是(shi)“小(xiao)頰赤肩”。明代(dai)小(xiao)說(shuo)(shuo)家馮夢(meng)龍在《古今(jin)小(xiao)說(shuo)(shuo)》第三十一卷(juan)《鬧(nao)陰司司馬(ma)貌斷獄》中(zhong)(zhong)曾描寫了“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)”夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)間巡(xun)查的(de)(de)(de)(de)情(qing)形。明代(dai)民(min)(min)(min)間關于“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)傳說(shuo)(shuo)很多,根據民(min)(min)(min)間的(de)(de)(de)(de)描述,“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)”是(shi)一位公正、善良(liang)之(zhi)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen),他巡(xun)夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)時常將民(min)(min)(min)間百姓的(de)(de)(de)(de)冤屈之(zhi)事(shi)稟報(bao)給天帝,使正義得到伸張,惡人(ren)得到懲罰。《封神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)演義》中(zhong)(zhong)則說(shuo)(shuo),“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)神(shen)(shen)(shen)(shen)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)名(ming)字叫喬坤。
夜(ye)游神(shen)(shen),又稱(cheng)夜(ye)游巡。是(shi)夜(ye)晚巡行(xing)之神(shen)(shen),與日游神(shen)(shen)輪值,監督(du)人(ren)間的善(shan)惡。《山海經(jing)》說:“有(you)神(shen)(shen)人(ren)二八(ba),連(lian)臂為帝(di)司夜(ye)于野(ye)。”就是(shi)指傳說中的夜(ye)游神(shen)(shen)。當時的夜(ye)游神(shen)(shen)不只一人(ren),而逐漸演變(bian)之下,變(bian)成只有(you)一位。
《山(shan)海經(jing)·海外(wai)南經(jing)》載(zai):“有神人(ren)二(er)八,連臂(bei),為帝(di)司(si)夜(ye)于此(ci)野。”“二(er)八”神,即“夜(ye)游神”,郭(guo)璞(pu)注條曰:“晝隱(yin)夜(ye)見(現)。”
二八神(shen)(shen)的名字(zi)很奇怪(guai)。《山海經》卷六《海外南經》說(shuo)明(ming):二八神(shen)(shen)在羽民東。其為人小頰赤肩,盡十六人。”這里明(ming)顯是(shi)用了乘法,二八一(yi)十六,是(shi)說(shuo)夜游(you)神(shen)(shen)共有十六個。
郝懿(yi)行對此條箋疏道:“薛(xue)綜注《(文選)東京賦(fu)》云(yun):‘野(ye)仲(zhong)、游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang),惡(e)鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)也。兄(xiong)弟(di)八人(ren)(ren)(ren),常在(zai)人(ren)(ren)(ren)間作怪害(hai)。’案野(ye)仲(zhong)、游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)二人(ren)(ren)(ren),兄(xiong)弟(di)各八人(ren)(ren)(ren)正十六人(ren)(ren)(ren),疑即(ji)此也。”也認為(wei)(wei)“夜游(you)(you)(you)神(shen)(shen)”是十六個,而且以惡(e)鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)野(ye)仲(zhong)、游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)為(wei)(wei)首。野(ye)仲(zhong)和游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)是漢代(dai)民間傳說中(zhong)最(zui)厲害(hai)的兩個惡(e)鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui),因為(wei)(wei)他(ta)(ta)倆太厲害(hai)了,人(ren)(ren)(ren)們反而用他(ta)(ta)們去(qu)鎮伏(fu)其他(ta)(ta)鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)魅,正所謂以惡(e)制惡(e),以毒攻毒。清·盧文弘《群術拾補》輯《風俗通義(yi)》稱:“夏至,著五彩,辟兵,題曰游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)’,厲鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)知(zhi)其名(ming)者(zhe)。永(yong)樂中(zhong)(漢順(shun)帝(di)時),京師大疫,云(yun)厲鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)字(zi)野(ye)仲(zhong)、游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)……人(ren)(ren)(ren)情愁怖,復增(zeng)題之(zhi)。”當時人(ren)(ren)(ren)們用惡(e)鬼(gui)(gui)(gui)(gui)野(ye)仲(zhong)、游(you)(you)(you)光(guang)(guang)之(zhi)名(ming),來辟兵(避免受兵器(qi)傷害(hai))、辟瘟疫。也有人(ren)(ren)(ren)認為(wei)(wei)“二八神(shen)(shen)”是“二人(ren)(ren)(ren)”,“八”乃“人(ren)(ren)(ren)”之(zhi)誤。
《淮(huai)南(nan)子(zi)·墜(zhui)形訓》曰(yue):“有神二人(ren)(ren),連(lian)(lian)臂(bei)為帝(di)候(hou)夜,在(zai)其西南(nan)方。”高誘注曰(yue):“連(lian)(lian)臂(bei)大呼夜行”。是說“夜游(you)神”有兩位,臂(bei)膀是連(lian)(lian)在(zai)一起(qi)的,有點(dian)(dian)像連(lian)(lian)體怪胎,夜晚巡行時大喊大叫(jiao)。但(dan)后世傳說的“夜游(you)神”已沒有這些特點(dian)(dian),變(bian)成單個活動,而且(qie)行蹤詭秘,完(wan)全是一副窺測人(ren)(ren)們隱私的“包打(da)聽”角色。
明·馮夢(meng)龍編(bian)《古今(jin)小說》記(ji)載:蜀(shu)郡(jun)益(yi)州有(you)(you)(you)(you)個秀才叫(jiao)司馬(ma)貌(mao),空有(you)(you)(you)(you)一(yi)身才學,到了五十歲(sui),還不(bu)得(de)出身,屈埋(mai)(mai)于(yu)(yu)眾(zhong)人(ren)(ren)(ren)之中(zhong),心(xin)中(zhong)怏怏不(bu)平。一(yi)日醉酒,寫一(yi)首(shou)《怨詞(ci)》,其(qi)中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)兩句(ju)是:“善士嘆(tan)沉埋(mai)(mai),兇人(ren)(ren)(ren)得(de)橫(heng)暴。我若(ruo)作閻羅(luo),世事(shi)皆更正(zheng)。”吟哦數遍,將詩稿焚于(yu)(yu)燈下(xia)。不(bu)料此事(shi)被“夜(ye)游(you)(you)(you)神”偵知,奏知玉(yu)帝(di)。玉(yu)帝(di)聞之大(da)怒,要治其(qi)罪,后聽太白(bai)金星(xing)勸告,讓司馬(ma)貌(mao)代理閻王半(ban)日。司馬(ma)貌(mao)果(guo)然不(bu)凡,半(ban)日時(shi)間(jian)把四件大(da)案(an)皆判分(fen)得(de)清清楚楚。玉(yu)帝(di)見他能(neng)體(ti)現天(tian)地(di)無私、果(guo)報(bao)不(bu)爽之意,就叫(jiao)他轉(zhuan)(zhuan)世為(wei)司馬(ma)懿(yi),將三分(fen)天(tian)下(xia)收拾(shi)歸一(yi)。在(zai)這里,司馬(ma)貌(mao)有(you)(you)(you)(you)幸當(dang)(dang)了半(ban)日閻羅(luo)王,后轉(zhuan)(zhuan)世為(wei)出將為(wei)相的司馬(ma)懿(yi),倒要感(gan)謝那個“夜(ye)游(you)(you)(you)神”了。人(ren)(ren)(ren)們對“夜(ye)游(you)(you)(you)神”是敬畏的。明代劉侗、于(yu)(yu)奕正(zheng)在(zai)《帝(di)京景(jing)物略》卷(juan)二《春場(chang)》中(zhong),談到當(dang)(dang)時(shi)北京民間(jian)的一(yi)種(zhong)風俗,即在(zai)夜(ye)晚星(xing)光(guang)下(xia),不(bu)能(neng)在(zai)院中(zhong)放置洗濯的剩水,怕“夜(ye)游(you)(you)(you)神”巡夜(ye)時(shi)用這些臟水飲馬(ma),罪過就大(da)了。由此看來(lai),早在(zai)明代民間(jian)就已普遍對“夜(ye)游(you)(you)(you)神”有(you)(you)(you)(you)信(xin)仰了。
“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen)”到了清代(dai)(dai),形(xing)象(xiang)已與上古(gu)傳(chuan)說(shuo)中(zhong)(zhong)有很大(da)不(bu)同,不(bu)是“為人(ren)(ren)(ren)小頰赤肩”,而是高大(da)無比。若(ruo)是夜(ye)(ye)(ye)晚碰到他,常(chang)會(hui)倒霉。清《醉(zui)茶志(zhi)(zhi)怪》中(zhong)(zhong)記載了幾(ji)則夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen)的傳(chuan)說(shuo)。茲錄一(yi)(yi)(yi)節:夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen),往往為人(ren)(ren)(ren)所(suo)遇。以予所(suo)聞者(zhe)言之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)在(zai)邑東關(guan)外崇寧宮前(qian),有王某夜(ye)(ye)(ye)行(xing),見(jian)墻陰一(yi)(yi)(yi)物如(ru)袱,俯視(shi)乃巨靴(xue),長約(yue)三尺許。舉頭則眉際復一(yi)(yi)(yi)靴(xue),大(da)亦相(xiang)等。仰(yang)望一(yi)(yi)(yi)巨人(ren)(ren)(ren),坐檐際,高約(yue)數(shu)(shu)丈(zhang),迭腿而坐。躊躇(chu)間(jian),忽(hu)有一(yi)(yi)(yi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)提燈籠而來,巨人(ren)(ren)(ren)抬其(qi)足(zu),其(qi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)若(ruo)未(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)見(jian),匆匆遂過(guo)。王亦欲隨之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)過(guo),巨人(ren)(ren)(ren)乃以足(zu)擋之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。相(xiang)持數(shu)(shu)刻,始不(bu)見(jian)。歸家后(hou),不(bu)數(shu)(shu)日而亡。殆衰(shuai)氣(qi)所(suo)感,鬼神(shen)挪揄之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)也。又某宦窩(wo)河北客合(he),好樗蒲(pu)(古(gu)代(dai)(dai)一(yi)(yi)(yi)種(zhong)游(you)(you)(you)(you)戲(xi),像(xiang)(xiang)后(hou)代(dai)(dai)的擲骰子(zi))。正月間(jian),訪友(you)人(ren)(ren)(ren)賭戲(xi),歸店時已三鼓,月色微(wei)明。至北關(guan)浮橋,見(jian)鈔關(guan)東有巨人(ren)(ren)(ren)坐屋上,高以丈(zhang)計,其(qi)服(fu)制(zhi)仿佛紗帽寬袍(pao),氣(qi)象(xiang)雄闊(kuo)。某駭,幾(ji)不(bu)能步。視(shi)所(suo)提之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)燈,光小如(ru)豆,踟躇(chu)不(bu)前(qian),俄(e)而不(bu)見(jian)。某歸后(hou)亦無恙。《醉(zui)茶志(zhi)(zhi)怪》所(suo)說(shuo)“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen)”“紗帽寬袍(pao),氣(qi)象(xiang)雄闊(kuo)”之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)形(xing)象(xiang),與民(min)間(jian)流行(xing)的“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen)”神(shen)馬造像(xiang)(xiang)完全相(xiang)同,只是神(shen)馬中(zhong)(zhong)的“夜(ye)(ye)(ye)游(you)(you)(you)(you)神(shen)”一(yi)(yi)(yi)手(shou)握朱(zhu)筆,一(yi)(yi)(yi)手(shou)持卷簿,身著黑袍(pao)。《醉(zui)茶志(zhi)(zhi)怪》所(suo)載形(xing)象(xiang)當是受了神(shen)馬的影響。
《封神(shen)演義》中則說,“夜游神(shen)”的(de)名字叫喬坤。
如(ru)今,“夜游神”一般(ban)指(zhi)稱喜歡夜間(jian)在(zai)外(wai)四(si)處游蕩之人。