The main theme of "Red Mansions" is about love

The first chapter of "A Dream of Red Mansions" says: "The main theme of this book is about love." Whether the author used a blind trick or to avoid the "literary prison", from the perspective of the text, it is said that this book is "a big talk about love." "Purpose to talk about love" is indeed in line with the facts, and "human feelings are sophisticated" is also "love". As for whether the author really didn't want to talk about politics and just wanted to write a biography for someone in his boudoir, or he wanted to cover it up for fear of causing harm, why would future generations bother to dig deeper? They say the truth is hidden!

Mr. Bai Xianyong said that when he was teaching the book "Dream of Red Mansions" in the United States, it was difficult to translate the word "love". He used all the vocabulary and could not find a completely consistent word. Thinking about it carefully, The word "love" indeed means "a lingering meaning", which is difficult to describe clearly. Western "estrus" is too violent, and the so-called "emotion" is used for "flirting". It is very different from the Chinese people's "love, which is deeply felt without knowing the origin, and the living can die, and the dead can live...". There are also stories similar to "Romeo and Juliet". Like Baodai, she is also a teenager, innocent to death.

According to the theory of modern biology, the so-called "love at first sight" or "love at first sight" or "love at first sight" is often caused by the fit of genes, which can be easily explained. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", the automatic attraction between genes due to reproductive advantages. If this was probably the only criterion in primitive society, of course in modern society many more criteria are added.

Let’s try to sort out the various “loves” in this heavenly book with the main theme of “talking about love”:

First of all, Baoyu, who has no understanding of human affairs, is “love of heaven, love, sea, and illusion of love” Qin Keqing introduces the "Fantasy Land of Taixu" to meet the "moon debts of the world, the police fantasy fairy who controls the grievances of women and crazy men in the world", and is "checking opportunities and spreading lovesickness" for a group of "romantic evildoers" in the "Sea of ??Evil and Love" ", because Baoyu saw the couplet "The thick earth and high sky can sigh the endless love of ancient and modern times, the crazy men and women complain about the pity of romantic debts that are difficult to repay", and thought about "what is the love of ancient and modern times, what is the debt of romantic relationships, the evil spirits are summoned to death", but became " "Infatuation", "emotion type" and "passionate son", and the foretelling of the ancestors of Rong Ning's second house that "using lustful sounds and other things to warn someone of their infatuation may make him jump out of the charming circle and then enter the right path" Suppose it's just the opposite. In fact, the stubborn stone had already stayed under the Qinggan Peak when Nuwa was mending the sky. The so-called "the root of love is an endless debt in life" has already become the "root of love" and "the seed of love". Although he is not talented enough to be selected to mend the sky, But he has to make up for the "evil love in the sea"... In the last forty chapters, "Zhen Baoyu" has "cultivated the right fruit", and the true and false, the false and the true are again competing with the birth of "Jia Baoyu" and "Zhen Baoyu". The entry of "Baoyu" into the world...

The "loving master" next to "Jing Huan Fairy" should have also planted "love" in Qin Zhong - the "seed of love"! But Meng Lang is so anxious! It was also planted in Jiang Yuhan. The character played by Jiang Yuhan in the play "Oiran" sung in the next forty chapters was also named Qin Zhong, which means "seed of love". With a twist of "waiting", Qin Zhong The petty official originally saved up his oil money for a year and wanted to seduce the oiran, but because the oiran was drunk, he fell in love with her. Instead of taking advantage of her, he instead served the hungover oiran and even used his own new clothes to pick up the girl. The woman's vomited filth finally won her heart... This style is exactly the same as Baoyu's consistent "considerate, gentle and humble". The first sentence of "The First Introduction to the Twelve Songs" of "A Dream of Red Mansions" is "To open up Hongmeng, who is the kind of love?" Who is the kind of love? You can judge for yourself!

Baoyu is naturally a "passionate" person, not a "stupid thing with lustful skin", but "an infatuated love born from his talent", which Jing Huan calls "obscene". In fact, Baoyu just had a sneak test of "cloud and rain love" with Xiren. The curiosity of teenagers is understandable. As for the rest, except for the normal attitude after marriage with Baochai, he is unique. If Jia She, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, Xue Pan, Sun Shaozu and others are "stupid people with lustful skin", Baoyu is indeed very different from them. The former is more animalistic, while Baoyu is more divine, and more of them are opposites. The thoughtfulness and compassion of various women are the "King of Flowers in Jiangdong", which Mr. Bai Xianyong calls "the flower protector in the Grand View Garden".

Baoyu’s admiration and love for Daiyu are like "three thousand weak water, I only take one gourd to drink", admiration and love like a confidant, although Meng Lang occasionally makes inappropriate words, but he can always correct it in time, "as a The essence of "Xiao Fu Di" is respect and admiration. Similar to platonic love, that is, falling in love with the other person's "mind", "heart" or "soul", maybe because of "compatibility", maybe because of "complementarity". Just imagine that Bao and Dai would be cautious if they had any skin-to-skin contact. It was a fusion from soul to flesh, which was very different from those who indulged in sexual intercourse, even with Qin Zhong. The former attaches great importance to "spiritual intercourse", and physical intimacy is the icing on the cake, but it doesn't matter if it is not available. However, most men either directly seduce or indirectly flirt with the purpose of pleasing the body, and become what Jing Huan calls "skin-promiscuous idiots."

Mr. Zhou Ruchang said in his commentary on Chapters 11 and 2: "The crux is always the difference between lust and desire. Those who indulge in desire are often less than love, and those who are more passionate than love are often less than desire. ..." The so-called " "Emotion" - divine nature, so-called "desire" - animal nature. The former is the sublimation of human nature, while the latter is the nature of animals, blameless and just compassion. Schopenhauer calls it human beings controlled by the "will to reproduce".

Of course there is another saying, Confucius said, "What starts with emotion, stops with etiquette." Emotion - the instinct of "biological man" - "estrus"; whether it can "stop etiquette" is used to measure whether it meets the standard of a "gentleman". The gentlemanly demeanor of the British and the chivalry of the Europeans, including those praised by Christianity Divinity and asceticism essentially require people to be nobler and free from vulgar tastes. It's just that there are very few people who can really do it, so there are so many "hypocrites" in the world. Therefore, Jinghuan has not forgotten those "sexy dandies" and "frivolous prodigals" who use "lustful but not lewd" and "feeling but not lewd" to cover themselves up, and points out that "lustful is lewd", "informed knowledge is more lewd", and "emotion is more lewd". "If you meet someone, you will be a prostitute." It is really satisfying to tear off the masks of countless "hypocrites".

Even so, Baodai's "Platonic" love could not be tolerated by the social ethics of the time. The so-called "private relationship", not to mention "private giving and receiving" and "passing of tokens", Isn’t this exactly what was copied during the inspection of Grand View Garden? Mother Jia has already judged such a "private life": "a scholarly family", "a peerless beauty", "meeting a handsome man", "reminds me of important events in my life", "my parents have forgotten", "poems and books" "Forget", "People are not adults", "Ghosts cannot become ghosts"; "A person who is full of poems and books to do these things cannot be considered a beauty." No matter how different these words are from modern civilization, they are after all the ethics of the aristocracy at that time. Morality. Marriage is the "fate of the parents", "the words of the matchmaker", "the marriage of the family", and the "propagation of heirs". From the moment the hijab is lifted, it is destined to only "grow old together", "respect each other as guests", and "bring an eyebrow to each other". "Must help each other" is like the wedding vows made by Christians before God.

So the author put on a mythical cloak for Bao Dai's "private relationship" - eating honey green jelly grass, naturally had a "secret love", and one piece was not worthy of selection. How could the stubborn stone that mends the sky be determined to pursue fame and wealth? Immortals are always freer and more unique, with free souls. They do not need to stick to red tape, and cannot be bound by etiquette norms. People are always more tolerant of immortals, just like the beauty in heaven and the love in the world, even if "Tianxiang Tower" also moved countless onlookers. There are so many gods in Greek mythology who do whatever they want, and people have no choice but to let it go. However, heroes always bear a moral cross... From this point of view, no matter in the East or West, gods are always unrestrained. It's just that everyone in the world knows that gods are good, but there are still countless people who can't forget it...

Where there are "passionate" people, there are naturally "ruthless" ones. At the end of the fourteenth song, "ruthless, clearly caring", pay attention It's "taking care" not "retribution"! Mr. Zhou Ruchang thinks it refers to Miaoyu, and Mr. Cai Yijiang thinks it refers to Miaoyu in general. I think Miaoyu cannot be regarded as ruthless. If she is really ruthless, she will not practice to the point of going crazy. She dreams that Prince Wang and Sun Gong come to rob her, and the six roots are still not pure enough.

Mr. Bai Xianyong said that there was no personal relationship between Baoyu and Miaoyu, and that Miaoyu admired Baoyu for being able to become a Buddha... I think Baoyu respected Miaoyu and had no relationship with children, so he did not accept his cup and only replied to his birthday message from She squeezed it under the door, and the only time she "begged for red plums" was punished and she had no choice but to go. But Miaoyu did the opposite, deliberately approaching intentionally or unintentionally, and even lamented in the verdict that "the prince and grandson have no chance"! If it really is a connection with Buddha, why bother naming "Prince and Grand Master"?

There are not a few people who hate Miaoyu for being ruthless and wish she would suffer retribution. I think it’s okay because I understand, so I’m tolerant. Most of the people who hate her have been hurt by similar people and feel pity for her. Most readers also have the characteristics of Miaoyu more or less hidden in their hearts!

The second "ruthless" one appears in the text. Baochai occupies the name of the flower and the peony, and the poem "can be ruthless and moving". This kind of ruthlessness is not ruthless. "Before the joy, anger, sorrow and joy develop, it is ruthlessness, and the joy, anger, sorrow and joy have already developed into emotion." Baochai is a model in the Confucian tradition. Naturally, "the joy, anger, sorrow and joy have not yet developed". This " Ruthless" also. Another explanation is from Baoyu's perspective on her. Although Baoyu has no personal affection for her as a child or a close friend, he occasionally touches Baoyu, such as "Xue Baochai is ashamed of being caged with musk strings". If it refers to Baochai, the last four words "clearly take care of." Indeed, it makes sense that Baochai took care of the Jia family after Baoyu became a monk.

The third ruthless person should be Xichun. This little girl was not simple when she first appeared. She was playing with her sister-in-law and said that she had no place to wear flowers after shaving her head. Then she appeared more prominently in painting the Grand View Garden. She had to ask for leave from the poetry club, which shows that she also doesn't like to get together. Then came the "inspection of the Grand View Garden" and the fierce campaign against Youshi. Youshi was obviously no match... She was really a ruthless and cold little girl. (The teaching of Hinayana Buddhism is to cultivate yourself, there is no praise or blame). The four words "clear care" refer to the ability to clearly distinguish what is true care... By the way, in the last forty chapters, it is said that he wanted to become a monk because he was having trouble taking care of the housework. It’s hard to convince people. Xichun is decisive, and her desire to become a monk is always looming. It’s hard to say whether she’s willing to take care of the family, and Miaoyu’s practice of wearing hair shows that her six roots are impure. Xichun is as decisive as You Sanjie. , it is necessary to cut off the three thousand worries. If you have already twisted your hair, why should you wear it or practice? Mr. Cai Yijiang also said that if you live in Longcui'an and have Zijuan serving you, then your life is not bad, and you should have a good fortune. I think so.

The other three sentences corresponding to "the ruthless and clear response" are "a graceful escape from death" - Qiaojie; "the life I owe you has been repaid" - Xifeng (I really owe a lot) Life); "The tears I owed have been exhausted" - Daiyu; this sentence alone does not refer to it in general. As far as the text is concerned, the only "ruthless" mentioned in the text is Baochai. In contrast to Daiyu, another mother and daughter, This design is also reasonable.

Also, the various versions currently on the market mostly contain the four words "clear retribution", and "clear retribution" only appears in "Zhiyanzhai Commentary on Zhou Ruchang's Edited and Reviewed Edition of Stone Records". It would be easier to understand if it means "clear retribution". If "ruthless" is not a derogatory term, then "retribution" may not necessarily be "bad retribution". Baoyu has no personal relationship with Baochai, and whether Baochai wants it or not, she will Under the guise of Daiyu, she married Baoyu while Baoyu was unconscious. In the end, Baoyu became a monk after enlightenment and she stayed alone in the empty room. Fortunately, Baochai had an ambition called "The good wind will send me to the blue sky with its power." One day A piece of enlightenment is called "It's hard to tie and send", and a piece of understanding is called "Let others gather and disperse as they please"...

(Similar questions also appeared when I came home from the wedding in Yuanchun. "A place where no one can be seen", Chen Yiben of the 50-year-old Writers Publishing House is a "place where no one can be seen" is appropriate, and it is self-explanatory)

But there is another incident. In the fifty-eighth episode of "Apricots and False Phoenixes Cry False Phoenix", Ou Guan pays homage to Yao Guan. Ou Guan is also considerate and gentle towards the newly appointed pistil officials. He himself explained, "For example, if a man loses his wife, he may have to become a doctor." Those who renew their strings must also renew their strings. But if you just don’t put aside the dead ones, it means you are deeply affectionate.

..." It feels very much like Xueqin's Gray Snake Grass line. In the last forty chapters where the line is thousands of miles away, Baoyu and Baochai also had a loving life after their marriage. The sentence that Baoyu asked the girl to pass to Baochai The words “If it comes, come quickly; if it doesn’t come, don’t let it blow in the wind. "It's very similar to Baoyu's tone. Isn't it heartless? It's not like that either.

(In addition, Sister Feng told jokes and teased Baoyu and Baochai in front of the old lady, concubines and wives. The married life of Baoyu and Baochai was also very similar to Sister Feng's. As for the tone, if the last forty chapters were all written by Gao E, I agree with Mr. Bai Xianyong, then Gao E is too awesome. The overall feeling of the last forty chapters is that they are too exciting when they are exciting, and too boring when they are boring. Dog tail and mink tail mixed in)

There is also a Xiangyun who "never cares about the personal love of his children". Some are "clearly affectionate" and some are "deliberately ruthless", none of which are as good as It's great to be magnanimous, innocent and unrestrained, but it's a pity that I still live in "Baomingsi", and I can't escape the ending of "the water of Xiangjiang River flows away and Chu Yun flies away"

Cry for Xiangyun! There is a kind of love - a decisive feeling that leaves no escape route. It can be a sentimental love, a fierce woman, or a crazy man, such as Zhang Jinge who secretly hanged himself and the guard's son who threw himself into the river; Pan You'an who died in the funeral; another example is Sister You who was kissed by the sword and Liu Xianglian who escaped in the cold... In short, whether it is sentimental, ruthless, sentimental, forgetful, romantic, kind or unkind... ...can't escape the "bad fate" - "all evil is caused by love"