Chapter 41: Nitpicking and Literary Criticism

"Guanzi Ring Twenty-Sixth" records that Guan Zhong once said to Qi Huan Gong: "Those who fly without wings have a voice; Those who are rooted and solid, love is also. In this sentence, Guan Zhong intends to clarify the truth: "Fame without wings can fly around, and feelings without blood relations can also be firmly cultivated." In this regard, once the writer of the article thoroughly understands the meaning of this, he can be especially cautious and careful when he is dancing and writing.

From ancient times to the present, whether it is a celebrity, a casual dancer or a writer, and whether they live in the same era or not, as long as everyone is on the top of the literary world together, they will inevitably be placed together, and they will suffer from the repeated comparisons, criticisms and comments of future generations. Even the classic masterpieces of the sages and sages of the ages, whether they belong to the genius of genius or the thoughtful pursuit of perfection, are equally imperfect, and there are still more or less flaws, flaws, and mistakes, so that they are reprimanded with almost nitpicking.

Cao Zhi during the Three Kingdoms period was only eight buckets high, and his articles were world-famous. However, when his father Cao Cao died, there was such a sentence in the "Martial King's Verse" written by him: "The secluded soul is forever stung." (To the effect that as soon as the tomb door is closed, the Eucharist is dormant forever.) ); In addition, Cao Zhi once wrote a "Winter Solstice Socks Ode" to his nephew Cao Rui, Emperor Wei Ming, which contained a sentence: "Soaring in the world, the holy body is light." (Something to the effect that when you put on these socks, your body can float and you can tour the country.) However, how can it be considered an appropriate liturgical wording to praise a noble emperor by using metaphors such as "floating" like a butterfly and "stinging" like an insect?

During the Western Jin Dynasty, in the famous poet Zuo Si's "Seven Satires" (now dead anecdotes), he even said that filial piety can also be disobedient. Words like this are blatantly contrary to the teachings of the saints, so even if there are other particularly clever points in the text, it is not worth reading again. It was also during this period that Pan Yue, who was the best at writing mourning articles at that time, actually used "Feeling Kouze" when mourning his brother; And when remembering his daughter who died early, he also used the words "suspicious". Although in "The Book of Rites: Yuzao", there is indeed such a sentence: "The mother is not and the cup ring cannot be drunk, and the breath of the mouth is saved." (Meaning: After my mother died, I didn't dare to use the drinking utensils she used to use, as if the mouth of the cup had the breath of my mother.) ); And in "The Book of Rites: Asking for Funeral", there are also such words: "Therefore, its sending is also like admiration, and its opposite is also like doubt." (Meaning: On the way to the funeral, it is like the admiration and pursuit when you are alive.) On the way back, I still wonder if I really died. )。 However, the use of "kouze" and "suspicious" like this is usually mainly aimed at the supreme parents, and if it is used for brothers and children, even if the words are written in a sad and pitiful manner, it is not the ethical righteousness of etiquette and humility.

It is not difficult to understand the gains and losses of the specific example sentences in the above-mentioned character comparison: in the article, when it comes to emperors, monarchs, parents, brothers, and children, it is necessary to take into account the theoretical norms of respecting the old and the young. However, Cui Ying in the Eastern Han Dynasty, who was a Li Gong at that time, wrote an edict that compared him to the Yellow Emperor and Yu Shun. and Xiang Xiu of the Wei and Jin dynasties, in his nostalgia for Ji Kang's "Thinking of the Old Fu", compared Ji Kang's farewell words with his son when he was about to be executed with Li Si's situation. It should be made clear here that in general texts, if you choose analogy, especially on some special occasions or in some unavoidable circumstances, it is better to use metaphors in terms of good conduct, which may be excessive, but not to use analogies that are too ugly in terms of corrupting the virtues of others. Therefore, as recorded in "Zuo Chuan: The Sixteenth Year of Xianggong", when Gao Hou, the doctor of Qi State, performed songs and dances that violated etiquette in public at the banquet of the princes, he was not only condemned himself, but also put his country in a passive position. Needless to say, subtle and novel words are generally particularly appealing to the ear and eye, and the tone of the paradoxical rhetoric is not difficult to see, and is questioned, condemned, or hated. This is like a slight flaw in white jade, which is commonplace, because it is very difficult to remove it completely. Therefore, there are flaws in the world's articles, and there are too many to mention. The above four example sentences are just a glimpse of the leopard.

The reason why an article is established and can be disseminated depends only on the meaning of the content contained in the words and sentences themselves. Therefore, when writing articles, especially in the selection of words and sentences, it is especially necessary to execute Zhou Zheng, so that it is possible to achieve the ideal effect of accurate and precise expression in expression. However, in addition to the need to be very accurate in the meaning of the words and sentences themselves, it is also necessary to combine words and sentences to express the theme ideas, overall concepts, and personal opinions that must conform to the morals and ethics that the people in society earnestly aspire to and actively respect, so that they can be widely disseminated and broadcasted.

Since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the creative intention of literary works has gradually fluctuated. During this period, there were not only appreciative words such as "appreciating the wonders", but also grotesque comments such as "soothing and rewarding", and even a single word in the article can be evaluated as covering the ambition and feelings of the entire article. However, the original meaning of "appreciation" or "appreciation" is "to receive material rewards for merit", which is not necessarily related to inner feelings, ideological enlightenment and spiritual sublimation. And "stroke" or "buckle" are just some body movements, how can they show the right and wrong of morality and ethics? Such a kind of criticism of literature is not only unseen in the "Style, Elegance, and Song" of the "Book of Songs", which has a distinct "beauty thorn" value, but also has never been heard of in the entire Han and Wei dynasties. Therefore, such a grotesque and bizarre "finger flaw", or talking about literary appreciation, or criticizing the use standards of literary and artistic works, although it seems to be excusable, even if it is based on exegesis alone, you will immediately know the absurdity and absurdity in it. As for why art appreciation has reached such a low level, the root cause is that the world is wrong and disorderly, and the second is that the style of writing is sloppy. Because of this, since Liu Song to the present, even talented writers have not fundamentally changed such a casual and absurd clumsy style. And such a bad cultural atmosphere, since it has become a habit, it can not be eradicated overnight!

Needless to say, modern writers are too evasive of each other and even more suspicious of each other. They are not only keen to find fault with the rhyme, but even in the reverse reading, they are especially fond of finding faults. In such a cultural atmosphere, although they disdain to be associated with classical scriptures, they have a special affection for fashion and customs. For example, in general articles, once there are words and sentences that are exactly the same as others, they should be completely deleted. Because plagiarizing other people's articles, just like Confucius condemning yang goods, is equivalent to taking the treasure jade bow of the Lu palace as his own...... This is a heinous crime. Therefore, plagiarizing other people's articles is the same as burglary; Some plagiarism is similar to petty theft. If the works of the ancients can be regarded as one's own creative achievements as shallow virtue, then plagiarizing the works of contemporaries should be shameless.

In addition, the books of later generations commenting on the books of their predecessors are mainly for the purpose of expounding the meaning of words and discerning things. However, some of the commentaries have gone astray and turned into deliberate distortions and arbitrary interpretations. For example, in Zhang Heng's "Xijing Fu" in the Eastern Han Dynasty, there is a sentence "It is the person who makes the Yellow Dynasty, and the domain of education and acquisition". The meaning of its original text is that it is lamented that in the ancient country of Zhonghuang, it has always been rich in brave men who can fight tigers and elephants. However, Xue Zong, a Wu man of the Three Kingdoms, interpreted the warrior as the leader of the eunuchs, and then turned the original work to promote the good story of "choosing warriors", but turned it into the intention of "driving the eunuchs". As recorded in the "Zhou Li", according to the ancient "Jingtian system", taxes were levied, and there were ten wells and thirty families donating a horse. Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in the "Customs and Customs", for the "well field system" to donate horses, the word "horse" is actually interpreted as "measuring the head and counting the hoof" and so on...... This is pure unscrupulous nonsense, and it has nothing to do with whether or not it is reasonable.

It goes without saying that throughout the ages, all those who read the scriptures and classics have always advocated "exegeting the meaning of words" and "distinguishing names", that is, the so-called "correct names". In the middle of daily reading and writing, what is the level of "righteousness"? For example, why do the common words "vehicle" and "horse" form a fixed name or noun when they are combined together? If the name is corrected, the reason for this is that when these two names were originally formed, they were not aimed at the chariots and horses used by ordinary people, but the cars that must be ridden when traveling in accordance with etiquette and the horses that they drive. In ancient times, when paying attention to etiquette, all the cars and horses that drove were used in pairs at the beginning, that is, the cars that carried people must be divided into "main (main) cars" and "auxiliary cars", so they are collectively referred to as "vehicles"; The horses that drive are divided into "horses" on both sides and "horses" in the middle, so they are collectively referred to as "horses". Therefore, with the widespread use of chariots and horses, even bicycles and single horses, have become customary and unimpeded, like "a car" and "a horse", which is worthy of the name. In a similar situation, the commonly used "husband and wife" has the same origin. It can be seen that even the common meaning of such ordinary names as "vehicles" and "horses" is easy to cause errors in understanding, interpretation, and traceability due to changes in the world. So in the middle of poetry and songs, even if it is some stories that seem to be easy to understand, and even belong to the eyes of modern times, it is often easy to miss the slightest mistake. And so on, if there are some flaws in the articles that have been studied and commented on ancient scriptures and classics in the past dynasties, and there are some flaws that are so obvious that they are wrong, is there anything to make a fuss about?

This article discusses "pointing to flaws", such as the specific figures and articles cited in the above inspection examples, especially "measuring the head and counting the hooves" and "selecting the courage to drive out the prisoners", etc., which are all typical cases of bias and misery, aiming to arouse the vigilance and vigilance of future generations. The world, such as the colors of paintings, are bright and bright at first, but with age, they must become dull and blurred. However, this is not the case with literary and artistic works. Because with the passage of time, especially through the continuous criticism, interpretation and criticism of the works of the previous life by later generations, the real literary and artistic masterpieces will become more and more brilliant. Therefore, literati writers must be cautious and prudent in the selection of words and sentences when creating art, especially in the choice of words and sentences...... Only in this way can it be passed on for thousands of years and never be ashamed.

All in all: Hou Yi's shot was ashamed, and Dongye's defeat was the first; The wise man has a thousand worries, and he is not idle in his pursuit of perfection. The white jade is slightly flawed and indelible, warm and strong, precious and natural; The article is not afraid of being accused of flaws, and the time has become more and more brilliant.