Chapter 29 Fifth Floor "Red Mansion" Aesthetics (7)

How to distinguish between texts and poems?In other places, it is not a difficult problem for a certain book; but in Xueqin's, it can be thought-provoking-a "reference book" for researching and consulting "literary theory" and "poetry theory" up. Mr. Gu Xianji, the first teacher, is a well-known poet of Kushui, named Sui, from Qinghe, a master of poetry, words, music (drama), literature, theory, and calligraphy. When he talked about Lu Xun's novel art in the past, he pointed out an essential point: The "poeticization" of characters is much more important than the description of nature, and the latter is not even conducive to the former.He said in "The Novelist of Lu Xun":

I said that novels are the expression of life, but the poetic description and expression of nature hinders the development of the novel's story and the motivation of the characters.So, in novels, is the description and expression of poetry important?Here, I further say: in novels, poetic description and expression are necessary, but not for nature.It is to poetize the character and motivation together, and to describe and express it poetically, without borrowing the help and foil of nature.The "Water Margin" was mentioned above, but those two passages cannot be regarded as the highest state of artistic expression in "Water Margin".After Lu Zhishen beat Zhenguanxi to death with three punches, "Going back to the lower place, I hurriedly rolled up some clothes and wrapped them in thin and soft silver. gone".In Cangzhou, Lin Chong heard Li Xiaoer say that Gao Taiwei sent Lu Yuhou to come here, which was not good for him, so he bought "a wrist-relief sharp knife and carried it with him, and looked for it in the front streets and alleys. ... Woke up at dawn the next day. ... took the knife and went to Cangzhou city and outside the city, in the small streets and alleys, and searched for three days."After Song Gongming learned that He Tao came to Yuncheng to arrest Chao Tianwang, he stabilized He Tao first, then went to the "trough" and got on the horse, led it out of the back door, sleeved his whip, jumped on the horse in a hurry, and left slowly. County government; get out of the east gate, whip two times, and the horse-riding Wangdongxi village will rush to; within half an hour, he will arrive at Chaogai village early."The above three paragraphs, and writing like this, are the unique skills of the author.That is to say: this is the description and expression of poetry in the novel; because he completely poetizes the dynamics of the characters, without the help and foil of nature at all.

As far as I know, when talking about Chinese novels, from Lu Xun to "Water Margin", those who show this kind of insight seem to have a unique vision.Therefore, I realized, such as, is it not the same norm?Xueqin never spends too much time on natural scenery, but on characters, she mainly uses "poetic" all words, actions, deeds, feelings, etc. of the characters as the primary means.In the chapter of "Infinite Love in Plain Clothes and Burning Incense", it is exactly the same.look-- At dawn, Baoyu came out of the corner gate, all vegan, without saying a word, got on the horse, bent down, and stomped down the street.Mingyan had no choice but to catch up with the whip, and hurriedly asked: "Where are you going?"Baoyu said, "Where does this road go?"Ming Yandao: This is the avenue to go out of the north gate - go out, it is deserted, there is nowhere to go.When Baoyu heard this, he nodded and said, "It's better to be in a deserted place."As he spoke, he whipped twice rashly, and the horse had already turned two turns and left the city gate.

This is great!I wrote this meaning into the first edition of "A Dream of Red Mansions" decades ago. Mr. Gu saw it and wrote to me, saying that he saw that I quoted his article (it had not yet been published at that time, and I kept his manuscript). , I feel very happy and honored to be an assistant in such a good book!This fully shows that Mr. agrees with my way of citing the example of "Water Margin" as a mutual understanding and understanding. ①Mr. Gu’s book "Xinzheng" aroused great interest. He said that he hadn't read "Red Mansion" for decades, but now his interest was so high that he immediately designed a compendium of a huge manuscript, focusing on all aspects of "Red Mansion". I have written a chapter (on characters), and said that it was not caused by me. How can there be such a flowery text?I am very happy, it is a rare proud stroke.It happened in the first half of 1954.Soon after the movement began, Mr. had to put down his pen, and it has become an absolute success since then.

Two Flower Festivals People who read "Red Mansion" often only know that there is a "burial of flowers" once, but do not know that there are actually two;The first time to bury flowers is in the twenty-third chapter, which is late spring; the second time is in the twenty-seventh chapter, which is Meng Xia.Peach blossoms were buried for the first time, and pomegranates, impatiens and other miscellaneous flowers were buried for the second time.The famous "Buying Flowers" is a second thing, but people (including speakers, painters, performers...) often get confused and think they are all the same thing.But this is easy to clarify after all.If there are two preserved flowers, it will take a lot of effort.

The first time to preserve flowers, there is a clear text in the book, and you can see from the review: it was April 26th, which coincided with the Ear Grain Festival, an "ancient custom". At the end of the day, it is the time for the God of Flowers to abdicate, so this grand event will be held as a farewell.Zhi Yan commented on this: "It doesn't matter whether this statement is classic or not, but just take its charm." This is actually another huge symbolic concept set by Xueqin to complement "Qinfang". : From now on, farewell to Sanchun, Ji Qunfang's last gathering-after this, the flowers and water flow, the family dies, and they go to "do their own things".

On that day, the garden was really full of flowers, and the occasion was very grand. The twenty-seventh chapter is not difficult to read, so there is no need to repeat it.It's the second time to preserve flowers that I'm talking about, which needs to be explained in detail.At this moment, I would like to point out one point first: the participants in the Preserved Flowers Festival are all beautiful women, but the "master" of the Preserved Flowers is Baoyu.If we recall Xueqin's patriarch Cao Yin called himself "Xitang Flower Sweeper", then I will give Xueqin a nickname, "The Messenger of Preserving Flowers in the Red Chamber".This number, added to him, feels very appropriate.

Speaking of which, please re-open the sixty-third chapter, that chapter is: "Shouyi Hongqunfang Holds a Night Banquet". Although the night banquet was the main theme, the Grand View Garden had been bustling since daytime, and that grand occasion was vaguely similar to the 27th time. The gathering of everyone in the garden was probably the most complete one. Some people may question: this is written to celebrate Baoyu's birthday, which has nothing to do with the flower festival. How can it be called "one time" and "two times"? You forgot, looking back, it's "Quanfang", the wine order for the night banquet, and the flower namesticks are drawn, why?Laomei, peony, hibiscus, crabapple, red apricot, yaotao...all belong to their own people, and the one that ends up is "the flower is blooming", so why?And the signature also marked: "Everyone present will drink three cups to send spring." Why is this?If you don’t know anything about this, then reading "Red Mansion" is too boring, "Xuxu is too annoying" (a kind of reaction from foreigners after reading it).

This night banquet, named Jieshou Yihong, was just for a "flower event", when all the flowers withered, all the daughters toasted each other - and sent themselves off.And the protagonist of this flower-preserving party is Baoyu. Don't you hear Qin Keqing's farewell words to Xifeng—— After the three springs, all the fragrances are exhausted, and each has to find his own door. Preserving flowers and burying flowers, a group of fragrant flowers, symbolic, a big center of guarding, is: the birth of Baoyu is just for him to act as a "messenger of preserved flowers"!

I don't know if you have thought of it: the first flower-preserving meeting on April 26, written in dark pen, was also Baoyu's birthday.When talking about the art of "Red Mansions", if you don't understand this meaning, you will buy the bamboo basket and return the pearl, and forget the fish when you get the trap.