爱华网OnceuponatimethegoddessNvGualevelseveralthousandspiecesofstonetorepairthedamagepostofheaven.Oneextrastonethatdidnotfitandasdiscardatthefootofamountain.
Thisetherealstonediscoveralovelybutfrailbutcelestialcampbytheriverofthespiritsinthewest.Everydayitwateredtheplantswithsweetdewtheplantnourishedbythedewtookessenceofheavenandearth.Aftercenturiesofpolishingthestonetookonhumanformsanddescendedtoearthandbecomingtheheroandheroinofthedreamoftheredchamberacomplexbrilliantandprofounddrama.
AmongtheChineseclassicsthedreamoftheredchamberhasbeenmostwidelyredandstudiedbythegeneralpublicandscholarsitsconceptioninthelaterpartofthe18thcentury.Besidesitsmythicalbeginningmorethen400humancharacterscometolifeintheJiapalacethroughouttheonehundredthandtwentychaptersofthisbook.Theyvividlyandrealisticallyunveilapureworldandthespiritualworldandtheloveandhatredandthegoodandevildesiccantandconsonant.
Foroveronehundredthyearsthedreamoftheredchamberhasattractedmillionsofpeoplefromallwalksoflife.Itespeciallyappealstoyoungpeoplebecausetheentireantagonistinthestoryisyoungaswell.Thebookisamasterpieceduetoitsvastrepertoireandreservoirofartisticachievementstheboundphilosophyoflifesimultaneouslycoupledwithacompellinglovestory.
Theheroofthedreamoftheredchamberisthehumanformofthediscardetherealstone.HewasbornholdingapreciousstoneinhismouthandsonamedBaoYupreciousstone.HeisthelifebloodoftheJiafamilyprotagonistofthelovestoryandpreacherofthephilosophyoflife.ThemainplotofthenovelistheentanglelovetriangleamongBaoYutheimperialstoneXianYuthetransformcelestialplantandDaiYuthedestineearthlylovepossessingthegoldmedallionwithaninscriptionmatchingtheoneonthepreciousstonefromthecouple.ThesecondaryplotevolvesaroundtheriseanddeclineoftheJiafamily.
Aseriesofeventsofcharactersunfoldaroundthesetwoplotsthedetailedandstructuredanalysisoftheentwinedrelationshipsamongthenovelsinnumerouscharacters.Enablethereaderstogetathrallunderstandingoftheriseanddeclineofaprominentfamilyandatasteofloveandhatredjoyandsorrowandreunionandseparation.
TheauthorCaoXue-qinwasbornintheearlypartofthe18thcenturyduringtheperiodofemperorKongXianddiedinthe27thyearofreignofemperorChinintheChingdynasty.Historicalresearchrevealsthatthepersonalexperiencesoftheauthorsbarestrikingsimilaritiestotheeventssettingofthisnovel.
BaoYuisprotagonistwasapamperedchildwhofacedhighexpectationshetooknointerestinfameorwealthbutratherindulgedhimselfinthecompanyofandrogenoffemaleplaymatefrombothhighandlowclasses.Heproclaimedthatgirlsarecreaturesofwaterandthathecouldfeelthatfreshnessandcleanliness.Whereasmenarethebeamsofslimhewasoverwhelmedbyturbulenceandfilthinessmerelybycatchingasightofthem.Thisisnotacasualremarkdroppedbyourhero.IndeedhiswholelifefromhisthoughtsandfeelingstohisexpressionsanddemeanorevolvedaroundhiscontemptforfameandwealthHisdevotiontoloveandsoulandhisconspicuousoppositiontopatriarchaltradition.
帖子相关图片:
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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Theauthorsuccessfullyportraysmanydistinctfemalecharactersbeamingwithtalentposeinnocentsandgrace.EachdrawingherowncrowdthemostimportantcharacterothertheleadingmaleroleofBaoYuaretwelveyoungladiesknownasthetwelvebeautiesoftheimperialmausoleum.Oneofthedistinctcharacteristicsofthisbookisthegreatesteemgiventowomen.
Inthisbookeventhosechambermaidswithratherlowsocialstatusaregivendistinctiveandunforgettablepersonalities.Beinguprightpassionateloyalcapableandefficient,Worthmentioningarethepoemthatthecharacterseverycountevent.Theauthor'sliteraryfeatsenablehimtoweavepoetryintheprosandbleatpersonalityandtalentbypresentingtheirinnerwoes.Inareflectionofculturalandspirituallifeofhistimethesepoemsforshadowthefuturedevelopmentsoftheplotaswellasthefateofthebookscharacters.
TheelderdaughteroftheJiafamilywasnameYuanChunandshewasexultedasanimperialconsortandgrantedavisittoherfamily.ThisfamilywaswealthyandaristocraticandbuiltasplendidandmagnificentparktowelcomehersothoseheyounggirlsdeterminedBaoYumovedintothepark.Andintheirnewlivingquarterstheyenjoyedfreedomlikeneverbeforesotheytransformedtheparkintoakingdomofyouthtillitwaspassingdreamslaughterandtears.Theluxuriousparkthenbecameavenueforgatheringandaswellaspartiesbuthowevertheirheathenishlifestylekeptinterruptinglifestylesofthefamilyeventuallydrovewastheirdownfall.
Theluxuriousparkbecameavenueforfrequentgatheringandfeasts,thepromulgateandcorruptinglifestyleofthefamilymanifestedineverygatheringandfeastsowedtheseedofitsruin.
IburiedtheflowerpetalstodaytheylaughatmyfoolishnesswhenIdiewhowilltendmytomb.
ApoemwrittenbyDaiYuherproclivityforbeingoversensitiveandsentimentalandherforlornchildhoodareembodiedinthispoem.Orphanedandwretched;shewastakeninbyhermaternalgrandmotheratayoungage.Sheisagiftedbeauty,proudaluckandeccentricbutfragileanddelicate.ThouherheartbeatsinharmonywithDaiYushewasthawedtoherlifetimepursuitofperfectlove.Owinglargelytoherexternalfactorsandpartlytoherownpersonalityflaws.Thispoemrepresentsaself-fulfillingprophecyofhertragicdestiny.
AnotherheroBaoChaiistotaldifferentfromDaiYuexceptforherliterarygiftofbeauty.Shestandsoutamongherpeerasaworldlycalmsedateanelegantyoungwoman.ThouattractiveandcharmingshelackthechasedandromanticqualitiesofDaiYu.Measuredagainsttraditionalfemalevirtuesherdispositionanddemeanormakehertheperfectcandidateforthewifeofayoungaristocrat.Inanarrangedwedding,BaoYumarriedher.
AtthesametimeseamingjoyfulandlivelymomentstheexhaustedanddesperateDaiYuapproachestheendoftheirlifeincompleteisolation.
Inadditiontothetorturedpastbytheleadingcharacterseverysinglepersonexperiencedthereownupsanddowns.Conflictssufferingandstrugglesstartafewroadsoflifeintherewonderfullife.Andsotheparadisenolongercanstanduptotheimpactoftheoutsideworld.FinallytheJiafamilyabandonsthepalaceandthesplendorofitwaslostforever.SothisstorydepictstheriseandfalloftheJiafamilyanditsmembers.
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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AlongwiththefamilythedecliningfameandwealththedarkanddesolateshadowiscastoverEdenwheretheyoungmembersofthefamilytakerefuge.Underthesameclearskywiththesamemoonlighthearingthesamemusicthesamepeoplesamefeastbutnotthesameatmosphere.Northesamefeelingeveryoneknowdeepintheirheartsthatthismundaneearthlybeautydelightwillsoonvanish.
HavinglivedthroughaseparationanddeathandthedeclineoffamilyourheroBaoYufinallycametounderstandtheemptinessofamaterialworld.Afterhefulfilledhisfilialdutiesbymarryingchithewomenhandpickedbyhisparentsandpassinghisexaminationsforcivilservanthereturnedtohisspiritualoriginandbecameamonk.
ThestoryhasnowcamefullcirclethepreciousstoneeventuallyrevertstoitsetherealaddressthetragictwisttotheendingofthebookbrakesawayfromtheshacklesoftraditionalConfucianvaluesandconventionalhappyendings.
Inthedreamoftheredchambertheauthorcommunicatesthedeceptionoflifeanddenouncesthematerialworld.Hesuccessfullydepictsandportraysthecharactersandallowsthereadertoidentifywithfamilymember'sfriendsandrelativesandgivethebookinfluencesthatarepositiveaswellasanoutlet.
No.2RomanceoftheThreeKingdoms
Firstofthefivegreatworksoftraditionalprosefiction,thismasternarrativetransformshistoryintoepicandhastherebyeducatedandentertainedreadersoffivecenturieswithunforgettableexemplarsofmartialandcivicvirtue,ofpersonalfidelityandpoliticaltreachery."Theempire,longdivided,mustunite;longunited,mustdivide.Thusithaseverbeen."EchoingtherhythmsofChinesehistoryitself,themonumentaltaleThreeKingdomsbegins.AsimportantforChinesecultureastheHomericepicshavebeenfortheWest,thisfourteenth-centurymasterpiececontinuestobelovedandreadthroughoutChinatoday.ThreeKingdomsportraysafatefulmomentattheendoftheHanDynasty(206B.C.-A.D.220)whenthefutureoftheChineseempirelayinthebalance.Fearingattacksbythreerebelliousstates,theemperorsentoutanurgentappealforsupport.Inresponse,threeyoungmen-thearistocraticLiuXuande,thefugitiveLordGuan,andthepigbutcherZhangFei-mettosweareternalbrotherhoodandfealtytotheirbeleagueredcountry.TheirvowsetinmotiontheseriesofeventsthatultimatelyresultedinthecollapseoftheHan.Writingcenturieslater,LuoGuanzhongdrewon,often-toldtalesofthisturbulentperiodtofashionasophisticatednarrativeofloyaltyandtreachery,triumphanddefeat,thatcametoepitomizeallthatwasbestandworstinthelifeofhiscountry.
"ThreeKingdomsisthetale(parthistorical,partlegendandmyth)ofthefalloftheLaterHanDynastyofChina.Itchroniclesthelivesofthosefeudallordsandtheirretainerswhotriedtoeitherreplacetheempireorrestoreit.Whilethenovelactuallyfollowsliterallyhundredsofcharacters,thefocusismainlyonthe3familieswhowouldeventuallycarveoutthe3kingdomsfromtheremnantsoftheHan.TheLiufamilyintheShukingdomledbyLiuBei,TheCaofamilyinWeiledbyCaoCao,andtheSunfamilyinWueventuallyledbySunQuan.Thebookdealswiththeplots,personalandarmybattles,intrigues,andstrugglesofthesefamiliestoachievedominanceforalmost100yrs.ThisbookalsogivesyouasenseofthewaytheChineseviewtheirhistory:cyclicalratherthanlinear(asintheWest).Thefirstandlastlinesofthebooksumthisviewupbest:'Theempirelongunitedmustdivide...'and'Theempirelongdividedmustunite...'IfyouareatleastalittleinterestedinChinesehistory(ancientormodern)andculturethisbookisamustread."
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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No.3TaleofWaterMargin
Inthefinalyearsofthesongdynastychinawasinastateofpoliticalandsocialturmoil.Besidesfrequentforeigninvasionandalargenumberofmanmadeandnaturaldisasterstherewerealsoconstantpheasantrebellion.Inordertotransformsocietyandmakeitmoreequitableandhuman108heroesjoinedtogetherinShan-dongprovinceLiangShantoopposethelocalofficialsandgenitures.Thusbeganthecorsagesandmovingdramaonwhichthenovelwatermarginisbased.
WatermarginistitleShui-Hu-ZhuaninChineseandinEnglishitiscalledallmenarebrothersoroutlawsoftheheart.ThestoryoriginatedandwaswidelytoldduringthenorthernTangdynasty.IntheearlyyearsoftheYuandynastyfrom1271-1368A.D.,LegendhasitthatShiNai-ancompiledandeditedthislongnovel.PeoplesaythatthestoryofheroesofthegreenwoodswhoareleadingcharactersofwatermarginsisChinasgreatestnovelofchivalry.Watermarginisbasedonpopularfolktalesandfullyreflectsthethoughtsandfeelingsprevalentatthetime.Mostimportantlythenoveldepictscomradesamongthesemenandthespiritofjusticeandaccordancetothetraditionalidealsofthepheasants.Thereforeawatermarginhasgainedwideacceptancesamongthecitydwellersaswell.ReaderscaneasilyimaginethattheyarefondofthehiddenworldoftheunderworldandfeelthevigorouslifeforceofthecommonpeoplethestorybeginsintheNorthernSongcapitalBianJing,whichisnowKaifeng.
ArrivingattheriverontombsweepingdayhepickedthelandscapeoftheNorthernSongcapitolBianJing.RowsofshopsthehustleandbustleoflargecrowedthatpaintingfullydisplayedBianJingflourishingeconomyandvibrantculture.Yetbehindsthisprosperousbackgroundmanylurkingdangerslayburiedbeneaththesurface.
BecauseofthepoweroftheNorthernSongdynastymuchoftheempirenorthernterritorywasoccupiedbyseveralbarbariantribes.Atthesametimethesongcourtwasbeingbankruptbycorruptministerswhogreatlyabusedtheirpower.Inthissocietycorruptofficialsandso-calledgentlemenofaristocracyconstantlybullytheweakandcostuntoldhardshipamongthepeasantInwatermarginthereisasongthatmovinglyportraysthatthisaffectionandmiseryfacedbythe.
Scorchingsunburninglikeinfernoricestockshaveweatheredandinunendingfields.Thefamousheartfilllikeflowingwaterwhileyoungaristocracieswaitfortime.
SincethelocalauthoritiesinLiangShan-poseethemasbanditsthecommonpeoplecallthemgoodmen.Andconsiderthemheroesmoreoverthepeasantperceivethatthesemanhavebecomeoutlawsnottoroborplunderbuttofulfillamuchhigherpurpose.
Intheabsentofajustsocietytheyareforcedtojointogetherasbrothersforacommonpurposeandmission.Astheheroestraveltherebel'sroadstheiractionsareeasilyidentifiedwithandmovingtothecommonpeople.
(LiangShan-po)
TheleaderoftheLiangShanisnicknamedkindlyreigndoesthisnameexpresshisabilitytogiveaidinanemergency?Orheadoffdangerortoheadofattherighttimetolendahelpinghand?
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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OriginallySongJiangwasadistrictmagistratewithabsolutelynointentionsofbecomingarebel.Howeverseeingthecorruptionofthegovernmentthatcausedthepeasantsagreatdealofsufferingandmisery.SongdeeplyregrettedhisinabilitytoeffectchangesoSongpickedupapenandpaperandwroteapoemtovoicehisaspirationsandtocriticizethegovernment.Afterpublishingthepoemsongwastriedandsentencedtodeathbutontheeveofhisscheduledexecution.SongJiangwassavedbyLeeKuiamemberoftheLiangShanbrotherhoodandledofftothesafetyofthemountain.Afterhisescapesongbecamebossofthecrusewarringonbehalfofheaven.Iwillprotectthelandandthesafetyofthepeople.
Encounteringgreatcalamitiesitisacommonfateforcingmostoftheleadingcharactersinwatermarginwithextrememeasures.Aprimeexampleistheall-inspiringLingChongnicknamedpanther¡¯shead.LingChongwasageneralandchiefinstructorwitheightythousandmenandimperialguards.
Lingmisfortunesstartedonthedaythathisbeautifulwifewenttothetempletoworshipandburnincense.Thereafieldmartialstepsonandsawlingspouseandimmediatelybecameinfatuatedwithher.InordertotakeLingChongwifebyforcethefieldmartialusedhispowertosetadeadlytrapbyfalselyaccusinglingofattemptingtoassassinatehim.AsaresultLingChongwasbanishedtoafrontiergarrisoninCangChow.NothappywiththepunishmentthefieldmarshalsetoutbyhookorfoottokillLingChongontheroadtohisnewpost.
Fortunately,LingwasrescuedbyhisswornbrothersallowingLingtoescapecertaindeath.However,Thinkingthatherhusbanddeadlingspousetookherownlifeinordertokeepawidowvirtue.TheresistantfeltoverthedestructionofthisfamilywasbeyondhisenduranceandasaresultLingChongwenttoLiangShan-potojoinrebelcamp.
Troubleandstrifebytheleadingcharactersinthewatermarginenlistedthegovernmentsympathiesfrompeasantswhoconfrontedthesamelifeofhardshipdesiccantsandcorruption's.Thefeelingofstarvationgriefandindicationarousedsympatheticunderstandingandresponsefromthereadersaswell.Shui-Fu-Zhuanwasexpressingthemselvesoutwiththetalentoffightingtheevilempiretheywonthepeoplesactivationfromthegovernmentpointofviewthesemenwereinsurgentsandcondemned.Itseemthatalthepeoplewhoreceiveprotectionfromtheseheroesthatwereeternallygratefultothemandforthisreasoneverytimetheheroescametowildernesstheysavesomebodykilledthewickedordefeatedgovernmenttroops.Butthecommonpeopledidnothelpbutshoutbravo!Bravo!
TheplayboymonkRuZhi-Shenisoneofwatermarginsmostunforgettablecharacters.AlthoughheisamonkRuZhi-Shenisunabletoavoidthewaysoftheflesh.OncewhilehelpingotherontheroadRuwasforcedtokillaman.PuttinghimintoagreatdealoftroublebynotobeyingtheBuddhistprovisionagainstkilling.Hedoesnotliveuptothestrikemoralprincipleofamonk.
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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HoweverWufearlessspiritandrecklessregardforhisownpersonalsafetycausehimtoadmitrightasaresultRudevelopsthenobleaspirationstoactivelysavetheworld.UponhearingthesoundoftsunamiinLiu-hepagodainkongcho.RuZhi-Shenrealizedthathewasneardeaththereuponmovetheincenseandunhurriedlysaidgoodby.InthissceneitisasRuZhi-Shenhadbeenpromotedtopallet.SuchanendingshowsthattheauthorofwatermarginputsRuZhi-Sheninthehighestrespectandregard.
AlwaysloyalandfaithfultoSongJiangdemonstratinghissimpleandtamenatureLeeKuioncesaidhewantedtokillalltheevilpeopleunderheavencutawayalltheevilthingsintheworld.LeeKuibraveandfiercetemperamenthislackoffearforbothheavenandearthearnedhimthenicksnamecyclone.LeeKuipossessesanindomitablespritandanenthusiasmforlife.LeeKuisavedSongJiang¡¯slifeaboutthesametimethemountainfortressLiangShan-powasestablishedandintheendLeeKuifallowSongJiangindeath.ThisaptdemonstratedthatLeeKuiiscommendableloyaltyandhisspiritofrighteousness.
OneofthemostcolorfulmembersoftheLiangShancrewsamanwhocouldhitthetargetwiththearrowoneveryshot.Andamarkedwrestlerwhoissaidtobeinvincibleandachampionoftheempirewasnoneotherthenthetigerbeatingherosongwhowasoneoftheoriginalmembersofthebrotherhood.Whotookontheoathtogothrewfireandwatertoliveanddietogether?Toundergothesametrialsandsharethesameglorythisenterpriseofjusticecanbelikenedtogreatforest.Themoreitburnedthemoreworrisomeitbecame.
EstablishedexilevirtueandmentheAl-Shen-societywasnoaplaceforrefugesorcouples.Norwasitconsideredahermitcavethemostsacredidealjusticehonorsandfreewill.Thebrotherhoodofmentogetherinmindandspiritresistedtheevilempireandthatwasthemostmovingaspectofthewatermargin.Moreoverintherealmoflanguagewatermarginexercisesunparallelskillusingcolloquiallanguagetovivifyeverydaylife.Andtheresultisthatitreachesloftyhighestandarticulateachievement.
InthechapterwhereWuSongbeatsthetigerwithhisbarehandsatJinYangMountainsTheauthorsusesrefinedprostogiveastepbystepchroniclesofWufightingthetiger.FromatimewhenhedidnotbelievetherewasatigeronthemountaintothetimehedidWuSongneverturnedback.Wuusedawoodedclubtobeatthetigerbloodyandwhenhisclubsnappedheusedhishands.Asthescenebuildstoitsfrighteningclimaxthevestigeoftheextraordinarybraveherobecomesandmoredistinctandpolite.
LiangShan180heroeshaveoncebeatenthegovernor'stroopsonseveraloccasions.Howevertheywereneverabletodepartfromtraditionalteachingofloyaltytothethroneandservicetothenation.Manychoseamnestyandsubmissionforthecourt.
YetthegovernmentwasafteralltrulycruelevenafterLiangShanheroesbecamegovernmenttroopsnomatterhowmanytimestheyriskedtherelivesinbattletheywereneverfullytrustedagain.Intheendtheydiedorwerescatteredtothewinds.Someoftheheroesdiedandsomevanishedandwereneverheardfromagain.TheformallygrandformidableheroesofLiangShanvanishedlikesmoke.
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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Althoughthesolutionbandofchivalrydisintegratedlikeadreamtheexploitsof108mencouldneverbesilent.Forthepastseveralhundredthyearstheherohavecontinuedtoliveintheheartsofmanypeople.Somuchsothatthesefictionalcharactersfromthenovelhavetransformedintofleshandbloodspiritandemotiontheyhavebecomeimmortalheroes.
Inpursuitofuniversaltruthandjusticehadbeenthenever-endingaspirationsofhumankind.Watermarginitselfeffectivelyusesthepowerofliteraturetorenewandrefreshthepursuit.Thenoveliscomfortingtothehumanspiritandencouragesthepeopletogreaterfacetheidealsoftruthandbreakthrewthebarriersintheirway.Althoughwatermarginsbelongtoatimelongagoandfaraway,aswelookattheworldtodayyouandIstillhaveavisionofheaveninourheartsaslongasidealsofjusticeremainsaliveintheworldtheheroesofwatermarginsalsostayalive.
No.4JourneytotheWest
JourneytothewestisahistoricChinesenovelthatisconsideredoneofthefourclassicsfromtheMingDynasty.Thesenovelsalongwiththegoldenlotuswatermarginsaswellastheromancesofthethreekingdomshavewonpopularacclaimfromgenerationtogeneration.Journeytothewestisacombinationofmythparableandcomedy.ItisastoryaboutaBuddhistmonkandbunchofanimalswithhumancharacteristic.TheanimalsactuallyinthestoryareaveryfairytaletypeofmoodandtheytraveledwesttoIndiatofindBuddhistscriptures.Theanimalsthemselvesarecelestialbeinginmortalformsandtheyhavemagicalpowersthatprotectthemfromthegoblinsandtheevilspirits.
AuthorWuCheng-enwritingscreateanimaginaryworldthatcreatesalifelikewiththeabsurdgivingusaglanceofthedifferentsidesofhumannature.
Monkeywascreatedoutofarock.Henotonlyhasthesharpwitandanunrulynatureofamonkeybutalsoextraordinarypowersthatheusestoovercomedemonsandmonsters.Pigsetsoffhispiglikeclumsinesswiththedispositionthatistheepitomeofhonestyanddirectness.Heisalwaysmakingamessoutofthingsandgeneratingalotofhumorintheprocess.
Beforethemonkcanfindthescriptureshemustsurmounts81obstaclesincludingovercomingsuchsupernaturalbeingsascowdemonthespiderbeastandalivingskeleton.Theseobstaclessymbolizethedifficultiesandchallengesthatpeoplemeetinthecourseofideals.
Thecharacteristhemainreasonthatjourneytothewestkeepsreaderinthrall.Thebookgetsmorethenanduproarscomedy.Itgivesusreadersanunforgivableinsightintolifeitself.
Asforthehistoricalrecordofjourneytothewestlet'sgobacktotheTangdynasty.HistoryactuallyrecallstheBuddhistmonkmasterShan-changormasterXuanZhuangwhocrossedhemightydeserttoreachtheIndiacontinentduringtheTangdynasty.19yearslaterhecamebacktochinawithover600Buddhistscriptures.Sothefactualbasisofjourneytothewestwasborn.HowevermasterXuanZhuangactuallywasalittlebitdifferentfrommastersantong.Whowasactuallyafictionalcharactercreatedbytheauthor?
作者： 天龙魔神座 2004-9-29 22:14 回复此发言
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Inanovel,TangShan-changmaybeamonkonadaringmissiontofindBuddhascriptures.Butheisalsoafaint-heartedhypocritewholackstranscendentinsightandliveslifeinpectoralfear.Heiskindandcompassionatebuthisinabilitytodistinguishbetweentrueandfalsehoodmakehimalltosusceptibletopig'sefforttosewthiscourt.Theresultisthathewronglydistressesmonkeywhocanseethroughthebioschemesofevilspiritsanddemons.Butofcoursewhenhehasfallowblindlyinthetrapofsomefinorotheritisalwaysmonkeythatfallbackonforhelp.
Actuallythecharacterofthemonkhappenstobequitesimilartothemythicalscholaralthoughheisanidealistatheartheisasweakasakittenandjustsetstherehelplesslyforrescuewhenhegetsintoapredicament.
Theauthorisperhapsmakingaslyjabattheincompetentrulersofhistime.ButifTangShan-changisevaluatedpurelyfromhisviewpointofreligionorspiritualattainmentheappearsasnotasaintlymonkbutratheranordinaryman.Somonkeyistherealheroinjourneytothewest.Monkeyiscreatedfromarockonenchantedmountainandbecauseofhiscourageandinsightislateranointedbyhispeersasking.Butonedayinaflashofenlightenment,thisgloriousmonkeykingseethatlifeisaverytemporarythingandthatthedelightsofhistimelyexistenceintheareamountaintreecannotgoonforever.Amazinglyhegivesitalluptofindamasterwhocanguidehimontothepathofspiritualmotivation.
Monkeyisgiftedwithintelligenceandagilitybothmentallyandphysically.Soheputshistalentstousebymasteringhisskillsofwizardrytothepointofwherehecantransformhimself72timesinablinkofaneye.Hehasamagicwanthatcanshrinksmallerthepenorexpandtillitislikeaclubofbronzeandamagiccloudthatcantakehimuptotheheavensordowntothebalesoftheearth.
Themonkeystillretainshismischievousandplayfultemperamentofhisfellowapes.Hisintelligenceandchildlikenaughtinessarereviledwhenhedoesthingslikedeliberatelysendingpigtoscanthenearbymountainandthentransforminghimselfintoaninsecttokeepaneyeonhisindolentcompanion.
FearingnothingthemonkeywouldplayinthepalaceoftheseagodinheavenorinHadesitself.HeevenmakesabetwithBuddha.Hisisarebelliouscharacterthatwilljustnotbowtoestablishedrules.
Fulloflifeandfilledwithspiritaswellasbeingsincereandoptimisticinnature,heisnotbotheredbysufferingandisalwaysreadytofaceuptonewchallenges.Thiskindofwilinesstoforgeaheadmaybethestuffthoseheroesaremadeoutof.Butitcarrieswithitaweaknessofarroganceimpulsivenessandadesiretoexceloverothers.
Pigfillsarolethatsymbolizesthedesiretocomfortandpleasure.Hetohasmagicalpowersbutitisjustnotthesameasmonkey.Whomakeshimseemnaiveandclumsybycomparisonmonkeyjustlovetoteasehimsopigdoeshislevelbesttobeathorninmonkeyssidebytellingliesabouthimtotongsongjon.
Pigisalazygluttonousthatneedshismaterialcomfortswhenitcomestotroublehejustcan'tholdhissideupsoisalwaysfirsttocallonforhelp.Duringtheirjourneyhenearlycasthiscompanioninhisownspiritualcultivationinside.Whenhefallsforenticementofbeautifulwomenandriches.ButiffinallyturnsouttobeallworkofBuddhasalviathathascometotesthim.Yetthankstotheauthorpigludicrousbehaviorbringsanironicsmiletothereadersfaceratherthenafrownofdisapprovalbecausewhilepigmakesalaughingstockofhimself-thereaderisremindedofthecovetousraspynaturethatempathythehumancondition.
Anothercharacterthatappearsquitelessfrequentlyisfriarsanwhenhedoestakethestage.Hisquiteresoluteanddowntonaturearereadilyapparent.
ActuallyInjourneyofthewestispurificationofthemindsothattheentireexpeditiontofindBuddhascripturesisactuallyawayofachievingspiritualgoodness.Sointhisplaythreearrogantweaknesslazinessevenignorancetheyareallweaknessofhumannaturethatrequiresspiritualcorrection.Howeverhonestygoodnessandcourageareallourfriendsinthedepthsofoursoul.Andthiswaythejourneytothewestthevariouscharactersinbattlewithevilandtheyteachusthatinhumanlifeitispossibleandtemperourselvestoachieveidealsandgoodness.
