在周作人的知识结构中,文化人类学占有十分重要的地位。留学日本期间,周作人接触到希腊神话,又因希腊神话对文化人类学产生兴趣。作为启蒙知识分子,周作人对文化人类学的接受不仅有着学术上的诉求,而且有着更深的思想因由。就前者而言,文化人类学为周作人解读童话故事、探究文学起源提供了理论资源;就后者而言,文化人类学既是周作人解剖中国社会痼疾的工具,也是解决儿童问题的主要依凭。对于周作人与文化人类学关系的梳理,可以反映出文化人类学知识在中国传播之初,如何与"五四"前后的学术、思想相勾连。
In Zhou Zuoren' s structure of knowledge, cultural anthropology plays a quite important role. During his study in Japan, Zhou Zuoren came into contact with Greek mythology, from which he showed an interest in cultural anthropology., As an intellectual of enlightenment, Zhou Zuoren' s acceptance of cnltural anthropology not only stemmed from academic appeals, but also from the deeper reason of thought. On the former, cultural anthropology provided Zhou with theoretical resources for understanding fairy tales and for exploration of literary origin; in terms of the latter, cultural anthropology is both an instrument for him to dissect China' s chronic social illnesses and a resource to resolve the problems about children. Reviewing the relationship between Zhou Zuoren and cultural anthropology can reflect how cultural anthropology was connected with learning and thought before and after the May 4th movement at the beginning of its spread in China.