Weiziyou Shanju

If the dream is floating-Reading Clouds in Beijing 2009-02-20 2 1:56 Introduction: After reading the last page of the novel, I once again studied the four-word title Clouds in Beijing written in pen and ink on the cover, and all the touches and understandings were melted in this topic that included all kinds of worlds. When I was visiting the bookstore, I accidentally looked back. At that time, I only felt familiar, and I bought it with a good impression. I never thought it would bring me such a happy touch, and make people cry with a relaxed mood and a happy touch. This is beyond the comprehension of those who haven't read it. It is a dreamy feeling, a refreshing edification and a profound shock. I don't want to prevaricate with "it's a long story" or "I can't say anything" like in the past. But "force" yourself to write a little practical feeling.

Brief introduction of the author

Lin Yutang (1895.10-1976.3.26) was born in Longxi, Fujian (now Zhangzhou, Fujian). Formerly known as Lehe, it was later changed to Yutang. The pen names Zai Yu and Qi Qing are famous scholars, writers and linguists in modern and contemporary China.

Writing background

Smoke in Beijing is a novel written by Lin Yutang in English during his stay in Paris from August 65438 to August 1939, dedicated to "brave soldiers in China". The English title is "Clouds in Beijing", which is the title he translated into Chinese. Lin Yutang originally intended to introduce the English version of A Dream of Red Mansions to western readers, but failed to translate it for various reasons. Later, he decided to write a novel based on the structure of A Dream of Red Mansions, so he wrote Smoke in Beijing.

abstract

Clouds in Beijing is a prosperous story and a "modern" version of A Dream of Red Mansions. It "takes the rise and fall history of Zeng, Yao and Niu in Beijing and the joys and sorrows of three generations as clues, reflecting the profound changes in China society from the Boxer Movement to War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression." Yuan Shikai usurped the country, zhang xun restoration, the Zhifeng War, the warlord regime, the May 4th Movement, the March 18th massacre, the pen battle between the "Silk School" and the "Modern Critics School", the "Left Deviation" of the youth, and the outbreak of World War II are simply "live dramas displayed on the historical stage". The background after the play is the profound culture of the Chinese nation. "

main body

At that time, the author's purpose was to show the real China culture to foreigners who didn't know China and despised China in the dark days. Therefore, between the lines of the book, the artist's sincere admiration for China people's living art, his love for local culture and his deep love for China are permeated. Undoubtedly, the old Beijing flavor displayed inside is a major feature and has advantages; The characters are vividly portrayed, as vividly described as they are now, and the psychological description is also very clever. The ideas of Laozi and Zhuangzi revealed everywhere in the book-round, natural, natural and easy-going life art, add a philosophical meaning.

1

"About eighty or ninety important people, wench is also a dozen. According to the characters in the Red Chamber, Mulan is like Xiangyun, ... Mochow is like Baochai, Ruby is like Daiyu, Gui is like Fengjie, she is not greedy, her body is like Xue Pan, her coral is like Li Wan, her treasure is like a treasure piano, her mandarin duck is like a nightingale, her fragrance is like Xiangling, and Joy is like a silly elder sister. Li menstruation is like aunt Zhao, flying far away. Sun Manniang is a special person, unparalleled. ……"

Focus on the heroine Mulan, almost perfect. But she is different, flesh and blood. She is intelligent and blue-faced, with the beauty, dignity, gentleness, modesty, openness and rationality of traditional women in China; She is more talented, cheerful and generous, passionate and romantic, and has excellent social skills. Her name also contains profound meanings: Mulan, an ancient heroine; And this Mulan in the book also has the power to soften steel bars. She likes to write big and powerful words, which always makes people feel that they are written for boys; When I was a girl, I often said to my sister, "I wish I were a boy." But she is still a delicate and affectionate woman, and she also had a youthful love. Although the old-fashioned marriage betrothed her to another man who was her childhood friend, she was still very happy. She naturally regarded her past feelings as a girl's fantasy, and found more advantages in her husband Sunya that lovers did not have. This is that they have known each other from beginning to end and are soul mates. This is also the embodiment of Taoism's thought of "conforming to heaven". It is this thought that makes Mulan's marriage happy. Under that special historical background, with the passage of time, Mulan's lifestyle began a series of changes. "From the growth of a rich boy to enjoying all material comforts, to becoming a village girl, living a quiet and elegant life, and finally becoming an ordinary farmer, becoming a drop of water in the sea of suffering, courage and greatness." Her life from a single particle to the final fusion is a process from closed to open, from thin to round, from narrow to wide.

The characters in the book can represent almost all kinds of people in China society: painter Qi Baishi, philosopher Lin Qinnan, radical young students, patriotic young people who are not afraid of sacrifice, extravagant and dissolute politicians, scholars returning from overseas, and some wealthy businessmen, monks and Taoist priests, Japanese officers and prostitutes. In this book, we can see that the old characters are slowly disappearing, and new characters are coming one after another. The oldest representatives are Niu and his wife, Master Zeng; The new ones are Huan Er, Chen San and Taiyun.

Step 2 manipulate

Smoke in Beijing is deeply influenced by classical novels in terms of artistry, and adopts the writing style of Zhang Hui's novels. But the content of the novel is modern, which is essentially different from the popular novels of talented people and beautiful women. Because the original text of the book is English, it is of little significance to evaluate the book from the perspective of language, but we can still see the author's superb language art from the translation. This linguistic feature is not only reflected in the overall structure of the novel as a whole, but also in every detail. Mulan was described in A Passage to Mount Tai as follows: "Mulan stood on the platform above the monument, with one hand on Afei's shoulder and her hair fluttering backwards with the mountain wind, looking like an elf on the mountain. She looked into the distance. In the distance, the gray patches were mountains and the purple and dark green patches were valleys. A magical light wave that changes color at any time floats on the earth. " After reading it, my eyes are like a beautiful picture, as if I were there.

3. Philosophical thinking

Mr. Yao Lao, the father of the heroine Mulan, is the carrier of the theme of this book. He devoted himself to studying Taoist books, collecting antiques, and cultivating his mind and nature. He is willing to accept new things and new ideas. Like a carefree philosopher, he transformed everything in time into his mind indifferently. He didn't let his two daughters tie their feet and let them go to a new school to learn the most advanced knowledge. Let them have the idea of new progress ........................................................................................................................................... as he himself said: "The characteristic of Confucianism is that it always thinks that it is right; The characteristic of Taoism is that it always thinks that others are right. " His life is like the wheel of Yin and Yang in Taoist gossip. Although there are twists and turns in it, it is round and full on the whole. He lived completely, died comfortably and naturally. His realm of life was not realized in a day. Take two of his ideas as examples:

First, when he buried his beloved antiquities in his yard on the eve of his escape to the south, he said that people's luck is closely related to their personality. If people are blessed, an altar of clear water becomes silver; If there is no blessing, a pot of silver will become clear water.

The other is that before Yao Sian died, his daughter asked him if he believed that people would become immortals after death, and he replied like this: "It's totally nonsense! That's popular Taoism. They know nothing about Zhuangzi. Life and death are natural truths. True Taoism will overcome death. He died happily. He is not afraid of death, because death is' returning to the Tao'. When Zhuangzi died, he told his disciples not to bury him because they were afraid that his body would be eaten by eagles. Zhuangzi said,' Birds feed on the ground, and ants feed on the ground. How can you insist on taking that and this? " "

I don't know if I can have the same handsome idea as him after I die. It will be a kind of happiness to die happily and return to dust and nature. This reminds me of Eriksson's stage theory, that is, the last period of human development-old age is the contrast between perfection and boredom. If a person is satisfied with his life and feels that his value has been fully exerted, he can get a sense of perfection, which includes a sense of wisdom and philosophy of life after long-term exercise, extending beyond his life cycle and integrating with the life cycle of the new generation. If you don't get this feeling, you will feel bored.

4. Famous comments

1938 Ms. Pearl Buck, a Nobel Prize in Literature winner, enthusiastically recommended Lin Yutang as a candidate in this book, saying, "Seek truth from facts and be not ashamed of truth. It is beautiful in writing, serious and cheerful, and can give a correct understanding and evaluation of ancient and modern China. I think this is by far the most authentic, profound, complete and important book about China.

Time magazine, a well-known American magazine, said that Clouds in Beijing is likely to become a classic about the social reality of modern China.

Editor's Note: Although Clouds in Beijing didn't win the prize in the end, it shows that Clouds in Beijing has the potential to go global. It is not only a masterpiece written for China people, but also for all mankind, because it describes the life of ordinary people, which is shocking.

final result

As soon as I opened the book, I felt like a stream of water at first, then I felt beautiful and flowing, then I felt very sad, and finally I felt that the gloomy situation before the thunderstorm was magnificent and leisurely. Leave it to the reader to chew the aftertaste and suddenly realize; What is life and what is dream. Or it can be said that "floating like a dream" is the theme of this book. When a novel gives people the impression of a big dream, it becomes a great novel, which can directly express life, and an endless life is a great novel.

Smoke in Beijing is a novel that can be read at any time. There is no need to read it when it is closed. It is best to watch it alone when it is quiet at night. Get up and have a sip of tea when you are sleepy and ask yourself, "am I one of the clowns in life?"