"Shishuoxinyu" - Interpretation of a derailed dynasty

In Chinese history, perhaps there is no era like the Wei and Jin Dynasties, where the society was dark and chaotic but the charm was fluid, and the scholars had a difficult future but had flamboyant personalities. At that time, some people sang songs generously, while others indulged in sensuality. The emperor ascended the throne and invited his ministers to sit together; the nobles were in power but were ashamed to interfere in political history; the literati and poets were addicted to drugs and behaved wildly; men painted and threw fruit carts in the street...

Thousands of years of history are wiped out in a flick of a finger, but the stories in those ancient books with worn covers have been passed down forever. They collide with different emerging cultures in different time and space, and ideas are constantly bursting out in the friction and integration. of sparks.

It is precisely in this way that Liu Yiqing used his brilliant pen to outline the ancient city of Luoyang from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the beginning of the Liu Song Dynasty, describing this "derailed" dynasty with vivid brushstrokes, detailing the past three dynasties. The speeches, customs, anecdotes and anecdotes of figures in the Wei and Jin Dynasties over the past hundred years are spread out like a scroll of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, for you and me to enjoy.

There is a saying that "the character of the Wei and Jin Dynasties is popular all over the world." The so-called "character of the Wei and Jin Dynasties", in my opinion, is a mysterious and light but impassioned sentiment, which is a characteristic of that era. It is said to be clear and distant because of the wanton elegance of the Seven Sages drinking wine and playing in the bamboo forest; it is the splashing ink and flowing water in the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion"; it is He Yan's walking gaze and the cheerfulness of Wei Jie's gods... It is said to be sonorous. , it is the social background of the Three Kingdoms and the troubled times; it is Shi Chong and Wang Kai's spending a lot of money, and Luzhu's leap; it is the changes in the temple, the bloody storm far away... It is the maverick of this era. Only then were we able to create a group of celebrities with their own unique styles. They talked about mysteries, drank wine, played the piano, and whistled. They used their occasional feelings to capture the sound of a string, a chapter of snow, and the leisure locked in the morning dew in the vegetation planted by their hands.

Shangguan Ziwei said, "Half of the turbid wine in the literary world was drunk by Li Bai into his poems, and the other half was dried up by the literati of Wei and Jin Dynasties due to cold and dampness. Some of it turned into madness, and the rest disappeared into sadness." This is the literati style in troubled times. Thousands of years of arrogance and unrestrainedness are sorted out by a song of sorrow. The rich charm of agarwood can be glimpsed in the slight frown of the flowers.

"The Twenty-Seventh Fake Story"

Wen Qiao's marriage to a wife is one of the scenes in "Shi Shuo Xin Yu" that left a deep impression on me. ? Wen Qiao, whose courtesy name was Taizhen, was a famous scholar in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He was handsome in appearance and extraordinary in bearing. He was known for his filial piety since he was a child. In his early years, he served as the special envoy of General Liu Kun to the south of the Yangtze River to persuade the Emperor of Jin to proclaim himself king. Military exploits.

Regarding how to portray this man with a distinguished official position, talent and appearance, Liu Yiqing did not choose Wen Qiao’s witty debate in the court, nor did he describe his heroic appearance on the battlefield, but Cutting out a clip of him "marrying a wife", this dramatic scene of him "looking for a wife for others" and "looking for himself" vividly shows Wen Qiao's cunning and seriousness. ?

Wen Qiao’s aunt Liu’s family had a daughter who was beautiful and intelligent. Mrs. Liu asked Wen Qiao to help her choose a good son-in-law. It happened that Wen Qiao’s wife died, and Wen Qiao felt deeply for her cousin. If you have a good impression, "you will get married".

Originally, this incident was extremely disappointing to Wen Qiao, but instead of being angry or angry, Wen Qiao acted as a matchmaker in a serious manner. He first humbly asked Conggu about the conditions for people like him, and Conggu's affirmative answer made him feel happy. After receiving Conggu's approval, Wen Qiao did not criticize it, but acted as a matchmaker and handed over the betrothal gift to the jade mirror stand. It was sent to the aunt's house. This jade mirror stand was obtained by Wen Qiao when he followed his uncle Liu Kun in the Northern Expedition. Huizhi Lanxin's cousin completely understood Wen Qiao's thoughts when she saw this token. The mother and daughter, who were well aware of this, pretended not to know anything about it, which showed that their cousin also had a secret affection for Wen Qiao.

On the wedding day, Wen Qiao appeared. The bride "draped the veil with her hands", looked at her husband, and couldn't help stroking her hands and laughing. Finally, during the wedding ceremony, the marriage that Wen Qiao had spent so much time on came to light.

? This scene is a true celebrity's romantic affair. In this "derailed" dynasty, Wen Qiao's self-praising of "a son-in-law and a famous official" and his cousin's informal "laughing with clasped hands" fully reflect the Wei and Jin people's bold pursuit of love. In that dynasty where there were no excessive restrictions on ethical principles, people's physical and mental freedom was greatly liberated, and they were more able to show their true temperament.

The reason why this article "Wen Qiao Marries a Wife" is so attractive is that it is full of interesting and strong comedy. The author Liu Yiqing is good at using concise and interesting strokes to create characters and outline the world and human feelings. The credit cannot be ignored.

"The Eighteenth of Qiyi"?

"The Letter of Severing Diplomacy with Shan Juyuan" was written by Ji Kang, one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest" during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, to his friend Shan Tao A letter, the whole article criticizes the current ills, and does it in a straightforward manner. It expresses Ji Kang's admiration for Lao and Zhuang's escapist thoughts and his dissatisfaction with the Sima Group's dictatorship. Every word reveals his true temperament.

This incident is also described in "Shishuo Xinyu". In the 18th chapter of Qi Yi, there is this sentence: "The monkey is going to choose Cao Cao. He wants to promote Ji Kang, but Kang Say goodbye to the book." In just fifteen words, Liu Yiqing painted a picture of Ji Kang who was free and easy, detached and upright, and people couldn't help but think about it. In this man's appearance, he was "shuddering, solemn, and cheerful." What a cynical, aloof and self-reliant heart underneath.

Ji Kang can be said to be a very representative figure among the literati of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. He is like a stone made of iron, tenacious and self-reliant. Even if there are many hardships, he will not waver in his inner pursuit and perseverance. Faced with the ups and downs of the officialdom, he did not sink; faced the threat of the Sima Group, he did not give in; faced the villain's slander, he died magnanimously, and his song "Guangling San" became famous in the world. He dared to challenge the world and let the world do whatever he wanted. He, Ji Kang, was like a giant, causing sudden ripples in the universe.

"Pin Zao Ninth"

I saw a short story in "Pin Zao", which is about Huan Wen hesitantly asking Yin Hao, "What do you think of me?" Yin Hao Answer calmly, "I have been dealing with me for a long time, and I would rather be me."

A good sentence, "I have been dealing with me for a long time, and I would rather be me."

When Huan Wen was young, he was as famous as Yin Hao. Naturally, there were some overt and covert rivalries between the two, and Huan Wen was unwilling to do so. However, many years later, when Huan Wen was at the peak of his life and was content with his ambitions, Yin Hao fell to the bottom and could not afford to fall. Huan Wen once again met Yin Hao, who was down and out. He couldn't help but laugh. The directness, explicitness, and aggressiveness of his words were beyond words. I can even imagine the smugness and arrogance in his heart.

Faced with such difficulties, ordinary people will definitely be annoyed, and there are only two answers.

I am not as good as you. Such wise self-protection makes people grovel and humiliate.

You are not as good as me. This is undoubtedly a kind of self-deception.

Yin Hao’s cleverness lies in that he jumped out of the weird circle of ordinary people’s thinking and instead found a new way. He answered cleverly and gracefully. He cleverly changed the comparison object to himself and expressed his own feelings. : "I am myself and will never give in to others." ?

In the face of comparison, we often lose our bearings. The trade-off between quantity and quality often puts us in a dilemma of our own making. This is because of people's common entanglement in gains and losses. "I am not as good as you because my material income is not as good as yours." This is people's most intuitive idea about comparison, and it is this idea that has become the shackles of our spirit. If we, like Yin Hao, can break the fixed thinking pattern and look for answers at the spiritual level, the results may be very different. And if this comparison rises to the spiritual level, then Huan Wen may not always be the winner. Posture. ?

It is precisely because of everyone’s spiritual independence that insisting on oneself is the original intention we must stick to in every comparison.

"The Seventh Knowledge"?

The process of human evolution is a process of deepening pursuit of material. There are too many things in this world that can only be seen from a distance to expand our imagination. Ambition, many people are blinded by desire while they are alive. In this aspect, some of the ideas of new humans in the 21st century are not even as good as those of the ancients thousands of years ago. ?

I once envied the detached indifference of "not being happy with things, not being sad with oneself". Such a long-standing sentiment was found again in "Knowledge". Liu Yiqing often writes some words that "hit the mark". Maybe these words are not his original intention or have nothing to do with the whole plot of the story, but for me, these words stand out and touch the soul directly. ?

The story originally tells that Zhang Han was awarded the title of Dongcao Citron by King Sima Ji of Qi. When the autumn wind blew up in Luoyang, he remembered the wild cabbage soup and seabass stew in Wuzhong, so he drove home. Soon After Sima Jiong failed, everyone praised Zhang Han for his ability to predict events.

But what I want to praise is Zhang Han's attitude towards life that "life is precious and comfortable". A person who lived in the troubled times of Wei and Jin Dynasties could be so broad-minded and far-sighted, just like that great man. He resolutely gave up his official position because of the taste of banishing immortals in the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty. "How can I ask for a title after traveling thousands of miles away?" In his eyes, material abundance is no match for the most sincere and simple longing for his hometown. And it was this feeling that saved him and made him realize that fame and fortune meant only a busy life. What he got from being a high-ranking official was just intrigues all day long, and all he needed was a stable ordinary life. . So in the end, he understood that on the way to find happiness, please follow your heart. ?

Shiraishi Yiwen said that there is no future in the world that cannot be chosen or has no choice. No future is certain. Because of this, every choice is destiny.

"Words Second"

"Words" records a short story about Cai Hong, a writer in the Western Jin Dynasty. In addition to being humorous, it also has some profound meaning.

The story is only a few hundred words long. It tells the story of Cai Hong, a minister of the subjugated country who grew up in the land of Wu and Chu. He went to Luoyang to seek an official position, but was ridiculed and ridiculed. Upon hearing this, Cai Hong immediately called "Luminous Pearl" "There is no need to come from the river of Mengjin; there is no need for the jade to be picked from the mountains of Kunlun." He retorted, and used the allusion of "King Wu of Zhou moved to the common people" to sneer that the man was really a fool. After feeling frustrated, he left angrily. There are all kinds of wonders in the creation of heaven and earth. Luminous pearls may not have been produced in the Yellow River of Mengjin's generation, and rough jade as big as the palm of your hand may not have to be collected by traveling to Kunlun. People do not need to blindly admire the products of famous mountains and rivers, while belittling the products of villages and fields.

As the saying goes, "Heroes do not ask where they come from." Whether a person is talented or not has nothing to do with his origin, family background, or past. Looking at people through colored glasses is an extremely stupid move. The feeling of superiority gained by belittling others is actually a cheap and tasteless form of self-mockery. Cai Hong saw things clearly. He stood outside the siege and looked at others. He probably just felt that this person's behavior was like a scratching clown, with a hint of sympathy in the ridiculousness.

"The Tenth Proverb"

Yuan Gong's lecture is a classic fragment in "Shishuo Xinyu". It tells about the old and frail Yuan Gong preaching scriptures and Taoism in Mount Lu. , never slacking off day after day, facing some lazy disciples, Yuan Gong said eloquently, "The light of mulberry trees cannot shine from far away, but I hope the brilliance of the morning sun will shine with the times." It means that the setting sun will shine. The light does not last long on the mulberry elms, but the rays of the morning sun can grow brighter as time goes by. ?

Yuan Gong compared himself to the afterglow of the setting sun, compared Zhaohui to young disciples, and advised them to cherish their time and study hard. The disciples were all moved and were in awe of their teacher who was still working tirelessly even though he was old.

?

When I read Yuan Gong, I thought of a talented woman named Zhang Chonghe during the Republic of China. I was fortunate enough to see her Kunqu opera arias on TV. The old lady was over eighty years old at the time. A long black braid is wrapped around her forehead. When she stands in front of the camera, she has a kind of elegance that follows the light without saying anything, and a kind of pragmatism and nobility that is full of poetry and calligraphy. This kind of youth is no less than Any energetic young man. I remember reading her calligraphy work "The Peony Pavilion" in her later years. The score is ancient music, which I couldn't understand with my limited knowledge, but the lyrics in small regular script are fresh and moist, as fresh and neat as the seedlings in the fields in May. , just like the singing of cuckoos, mixed with the full smell of human fireworks. ?

The youth in "The Peony Pavilion" is fresh and passionate, flowing like a waterfall, making people still love it even though they are old bones. Each stroke is tender and affectionate.

"The Thirty Five"

I especially like what Wang Rong's wife said to him in "The Lost": "I love you dearly, so dear, I don't "Qingqing, who is Qingqing?" She is full of cuteness and cuteness, like a little girl's willful anger. I can even imagine Wang Rong’s embarrassment of helplessness but resignation. This is really a lovely couple. ?

I am close to you and like you, so I call you Qing. If I don’t call you Qing in this world, who else can call you Qing?

Such joy is hidden in words, like the amber moonlight, the gentle wind, and the jagged birdsong, plain and harmonious. ?

I can’t help but think of what Shen Congwen wrote in his love letter to Zhang Zhaohe: “Life is too fragile and fragile, no more able to withstand the wind and rain than a flower. Looking back at life with eyes that are devoted to nature, It makes me feel that love is precious and I value the coincidence between people. There will never be a second coincidence in the same person or thing."?

Love will eventually end. , no matter how good we are together, we can't escape death. It is most appropriate to integrate love into life like Wang Rong's wife, regardless of the vicissitudes of the world and the passage of time.

"Rong Zhi Fourteenth"

"Rong Zhi" means "appearance". The whole chapter is devoted to describing the celebrities in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. It is very interesting to read. ? People in the Wei and Jin Dynasties attached great importance to the appearance and behavior of the scholars and nobles of the dynasty, and the current trend of facial recognition may have originated from this.

Liu Yiqing selected several highly representative figures to show the aesthetic trends of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and elaborated on the impact of appearance on the official career and interpersonal relationships of Wei and Jin people from two extremes. This is also the romantic style of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. important component. ?

The most contrasting looks are probably those of Mao Zeng and Xia Houxuan. One is from a humble background, and the other is outstanding in appearance. When the two of them sit next to each other, people call them "Jian Jia Yi Yi Shu". The reed is used as a metaphor for Mao Zeng, and the jade tree is used as a metaphor for Xia Houxuan. Such metaphors are vivid, simple, bold and wild, and the characters are vividly depicted in just a few crosses. ? When creating Liu Ling's character image, he was "four feet long and very ugly in appearance", and then wrote that he was "wandering and wandering, with a body shaped like earth and wood." What appeared on the page was a dwarf with simple clothes and an erratic and carefree appearance. The ugly and haggard face only enhanced his image of being carefree and carefree, and further deepened his uninhibited and unrestrained drunkenness. ? The beautiful man Wei Jie was "watched and killed", and wherever he went, "viewers were like a crowd." This description makes a frail and beautiful man even more mysterious. What kind of peerless appearance could make the people at that time so crazy. What's more, the words of Wei Jie's uncle Wang Wuzi, "The pearls and jade are on the side" contrast and highlight Wei Jie's spiritual charm, which makes people wonder.

Regarding appearance description, Liu Yiqing did not use general generalizations and comparisons, and he did not ignore the role of detailed description in shaping the character's image. For example, when Wang Xizhi praised Du Hongzhi, he sighed, "his face is like gelatin, and his eyes are like dots of paint." He is talking about Du Hongzhi's snow-white complexion, delicate skin, and eyes as bright as dots of paint. He describes Du Hongzhi as being as graceful as an immortal. Elegant and elegant. This writing technique of lifting light weights to cover heavy weights, and using each bureau to represent the whole leaves people wanting more, trying to get a glimpse of the true style of the entire Wei and Jin dynasties through pen and ink.

"Pai Tiao Twenty-Five"

Hao Long's move of posting books is undoubtedly a kind of fun mixed with self-deprecation and conceitedness.

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, ordinary people could not afford books. On July 7th, when they saw wealthy people showing off their books, Hao Long was also lying on his back in the sun. When people asked him why, he answered by showing off his books.

Self-deprecation is a state of mind. Hao Long adheres to certain views that are different from those of the world, jumps out of a narrow world, and examines himself from a philosophical perspective. He is neither biased nor following the crowd. He laughed at himself for being poor and without books at home, but he also arrogantly believed that he was well-read in poetry and books and had thousands of books in his belly. He secretly satirized the behavior of those aristocratic families who showed off their books by showing off their knowledge and skills. It was really elegant to think about it.