Chapter 20 The fourth floor "Red Mansion" Lingxiu (4)
The meaning and destiny of "talent"
Talent, talent, is the subject that Xueqin is most concerned about, and this book is written for this purpose.This talent includes himself, as well as a group of "strange women" he "saw and heard".
What the author hates all his life is "to make up for the sky without talent, to enter the world with illusion".What does this phrase mean?Answers are given in the book, namely:
There is nothing to mend the sky,
It's been a few years in the world of mortals in vain.
This is the past and the future,
Qian who remembers to make a legend? ①
What this means is: the "predecessor" was a stone, and he had no talent and failed to be selected for the great achievements of Butian; Success, half-life down and out"--these two experiences are regarded as "abandoned" by people, so they are deeply ashamed and hated. As a last resort, they pour their talents and ambitions into a history, ten years of hard work and perseverance.This is the words that shed tears for "talent".
To others, Xueqin values talent and cherishes talent, and the words used in the book are revealed from time to time, such as:
"Small talent and little kindness" - comment on Zhu's daughter (modest words).
"Talent is wise and ambition is high" - Tanchun's "judgment".
"We all know that we love talents in this life" - Sister Feng's "judgment".
"The temperament is as beautiful as orchids, and the talent is better than immortals" - Miaoyu's "judgment".
"Women are virtuous without talent" - Li Wan's father's training (introduced as irony).
"God, God, how many essences and talents do you have to give birth to these superior people!" - Baoyu Zan Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, Xiuyan and other words.Even Yuan Chun's "Choose Fengzao Palace for Talents" clearly shows that she was chosen for her "talent".
In other words, all the daughters written by Xueqin have extraordinary talents, but the way of expression and opportunity are different.
Cai, what exactly is it?In today's world, it seems that we only know that talent is connected with literati and poets, talent, talent, talent, talent... probably so; it is very broad to ignore the original meaning of "talent". "Shuowen" interprets it as "the beginning of grass and trees", and it can be seen that this refers to the expression of the life force of plants sprouting. If compared with "Ying", Ying is the most beautiful display of the outer appearance, while "talent" is the internal A powerful vitality waiting to be developed.In the old days, the "examination" (appraisal) of officials was usually followed by "virtue, talent, merit, and spoils", and this talent is also called "talent".For example, if the boss says that a certain official has "average talents", it means that his political insight is too mediocre to be used.This kind of old example is very useful for us to understand the true meaning of "talent".
In this way, the talents who "replenish the sky without talent", the talents of Sister Feng and Director Tanchun who manage the family and promote advantages and eliminate disadvantages, are of course recognized, and are no longer confused with the meanings of "literary talent", "poetry talent" and "romantic talent".
The understanding and admiration of "talent" in Chinese culture is the oldest source.The idea of emphasizing "talent" reflected in classics that can still be seen today can be cited in "Book of Changes Shuo Gua II":
In the past, the sages made changes based on the principle of following nature and fate: Therefore, to establish the way of heaven, it is called yin and yang; to establish the way of earth, it is called softness and rigidity;Combine three talents and get two of them, so Yi Liuhua forms a hexagram.
Chinese ancestors and philosophers regarded heaven, earth, and man as the "three poles".These three have their own "life", and each has its "talent" connotation (inner energy).Therefore, we might as well call a kind of Chinese cultural thought as "three talents doctrine".Among the three, man is the spirit of all things, the so-called "heart of heaven and earth", so man's "talent" is also the highest intelligence display of the unity of heaven, earth and man.
According to Xueqin's philosophical thinking, the "talent" of a person, especially the "talent" of "two Fu" is the most enviable and precious.But this enviable and precious "talent" is not known to the worldly mediocrity, so its fate always ends in misfortune and tragedy.This is the consensus and "harmony" between "Water Margin" and "Red Mansion" that differ in appearance but are actually the same.Its significance is so great that it is hardly easy to fully estimate.
People in the Ming Dynasty named the two novels "Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin" together as "Heroes". Extraordinary talent.This insight is very remarkable, and even thinking about it today is still amazing; but at that time, the cultural consciousness could not realize that there were "heroes" of the same quality and talents in the "fans"—so at that time There is no possibility of it yet, this is the most worth pondering.
If one can look at Xueqin's novels in this important sense, one will truly understand the greatness of this writer, which is unprecedented.
This greatness is not our empty words, but the greatness of a particularly brilliant thought that shocks our hearts and makes mankind wake up and realize it together.
① "Zuo Qi Zhuan" should be rewritten later, because "Yang Zangben" copied the original "Zuo Zhuan Shen" (lost rhyme), and the Ming Dynasty's "Zuo Shen Zhuan" was mistaken, which originally meant "vivid portrayal", The non-emphasis is on "odd".For details, see "The Story of the Stone Will Be True".