在绝大多数西方人的眼中,“宫廷小丑”被描绘成身穿花色衣服、头戴系铃帽子、插科打诨的人。人们普遍认为小丑是一个欧洲现象,是中世纪和文艺复兴的产物。其实无论在时间还是地域上,小丑的范围都要广得多。研究发现,在人类历史的各个阶段,在各种主流和非主流的文明中,都存在小丑。而且,尽管世界各地的文化不同,小丑却有着很多的相似之处:他们既是低人一等、令人不屑一顾的玩物或弃物,同时又是洞悉人性、参透玄机的世俗英雄;他们利用自身的滑稽、愚蠢、疯癫或者身体缺陷作为护身符,说出那些其他人不敢或不愿说出来的真话;也正因为如此,他们的真话往往能够让掌握权力的人保持清醒,不至于因为自身的傲慢和周围人的奉迎犯下那些无法挽回的大错。因此,有学者用“痴圣”来称呼这种人。 In the eyes of the vast majority of Westerners, “court clown” is portrayed as wearing garments, wearing a bell hat, gag. It is generally accepted that a clown is a European phenomenon, a product of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In fact, both in time and place, the scope of the clown should be much broader. The study found that in all stages of human history, clowns exist in various mainstream and non-mainstream civilizations. And despite the different cultures of the world, the clown has a lot of similarities: they are both inferior and dismissive plaything or discards, as well as secular heroes who know the humanity and get a glimpse into the mysteries; they use their own funny , Stupidity, madness, or physical defects as amulets, telling the truths that other people are afraid or unwilling to say; and it is for this reason that their truth often tends to keep those who are in power awake, Arrogance and the welcome of those around them committed the irreparable blunders. Therefore, some scholars use “obscenity” to address such people.