The following is an excerpt from an article, which I believe will give you the answer:
Zhuangzi and Romanticism
catalogue
I. Introduction
Two. This theory
ⅲ. Conclusion
Four. notes
Verb (abbreviation of verb) philology
ⅵ. Testimony
Seven. appendix
I. Introduction
I'm going to give a Chinese report again. Today is March 16. It expires in ten days. Let's get started!
Although the teacher announced the theme before the winter vacation, I was in Kinmen all winter vacation, and there was no library in Kinmen, so I couldn't start work. It's March 16, and I just started writing the report, and I'm going to finish it on March 24.
The theme I chose this time is Zhuangzi and Romanticism. After listening to my classmates say that information is hard to find, I decided to look for western romantic books. By comparing them with Zhuangzi, I might find some clues.
There are some similarities between Zhuangzi and the European romantics at the beginning of19th century, such as their mysterious worship of nature, their skillful use of satirical brushwork and their untidiness. However, at that time, Zhuangzi just naturally lived a carefree life and never thought about whether it was romantic or not. What's more, a foreign term "romanticism" appeared there.
Xu teacher said, "This is a new subject". Perhaps this means that few scholars have paid attention to this part before, so so far, I haven't found any papers and related articles about Zhuangzi and Romanticism. There are only a few days before the deadline. Come on!
In fact, Zhuangzi's thoughts are full of romantic thoughts. For example, in the debate between Hao and Liang, he saw the fish swimming and guessed that the fish was happy. This attitude of letting ideas run freely is a typical example of romanticism.
Perhaps ancient scholars were too serious and ignored Zhuangzi's romantic thoughts. Perhaps China people attach too much importance to Confucianism, so that other thoughts are not completely implanted in everyone's mind. On the contrary, foreign friends write more about Taoism. Even online, Taoist articles are mainly written by foreign writers. Literature should be inclusive, and politicians should not only emphasize Confucianism, but also attach equal importance to other people's ideas.
Two. This theory
Zhuangzi, whose real name is Zhou, was born in the Warring States period, and was once a clerk in the paint garden of Mengxian County. His knowledge is very profound, and the scope of his research is also very extensive and all-encompassing; His theory is basically based on Laozi, and his writings are sometimes tens of thousands of words; Most of them appear in the form of fables. He wrote: fisherman, thief's foot, scorpion, used to insult Confucius' disciples and clarify Laozi's theory. Articles such as "Afraid of Failure" and "Kang Sang Zi" are all empty words and have no factual basis. However, scholars who are good at writing articles, analyzing sentences, revealing facts and satirizing Confucianism and Mohism; Even the contemporary masters of Confucianism are inevitably criticized by him. He speaks freely, so many princes and ministers dare not take him seriously. His attitude towards life is quite similar to that of some people in the19th century.
The freedom and individualism of French romanticism are most fully manifested in the works of george sand and Hugo. George sand was one of the earliest writers who took peasants and humble laborers as the protagonists of the novel. Another influential writer is Hugo, who is the spokesman of French romanticism for many years. He is keen on public affairs, eloquently defends political freedom and upholds justice for those unfortunate people. His most famous novel Les Miserables is an epic that saves the soul through heroism and suffering, and it is also a powerful indictment of social cruelty.
In the twentieth year of King Xian of Zhou [349 BC], Zhuangzi fished in Pushui; Chu Weiwang heard that Zhuang Zhou was very capable, appointed a representative, brought a lot of money and gifts to hire him, and asked him to be a photographer. Zhuang Zhou said to the Chu people with a wry smile: "Daughter is indeed a great fortune, and your husband's status is indeed very high. Didn't you see the fat cow that the son of heaven sacrificed at the sacrifice? Those cows were kept for many years, but once they were covered with colorful cloth towels, they were finally carried into the palace as sacrifices. At this time, can't you be a pig at ease? I'd rather live in a mud ditch with my tail dragged like a turtle than be led by the nose by the authorities of a country, and I don't intend to indulge in officialdom all my life. How freehand! 」
Zhuangzi, like Lao Tzu, doesn't like being bound; I just like being close to nature and writing small articles. What Zhuangzi is good at is fable, which makes people understand the truth more easily, and this attitude of letting their hearts gallop and imagine coincides with the thoughts of romantic writers.
If we regard romantic literature as a factor of social and ideological progress, we should first pay attention to its serious limitations when evaluating its importance. Even the most liberal romantics' contempt for reason and scientific analysis will inevitably become an obstacle to the final solution of human problems. Excessive feelings are not easy to control. On the one hand, they let feelings gallop freely like wild horses, on the other hand, they will inevitably hinder judgment. So on the one hand, we see Hugo angrily accusing Charles Louis Napolé on Bonaparte, calling him "Little Napoleon", and on the other hand, singing a hymn for Napoleon I.
Zhuangzi and Hui Shi loitered in Haoliang. Zhuangzi said: "It is the happiness of the white fish to come out of the water and play leisurely. Hui Shi said: You are not a fish, how do you know the happiness of fish? Zhuangzi said, "You are not me. How do you know I don't know the happiness of fish? Hui Shi: I'm not you. I don't know your mood, but you're not a fish, so it's impossible to know the fish's mind. Zhuangzi: Let's start from the beginning! You asked me how I knew the happiness of fish, which means that you knew I knew the happiness of fish before you asked me. It can be seen that I already know it on Haoliang. " [Note 1]
The most famous example of Zhuangzi's romantic thought should be called "Debate between Hao and Liang". Fish swim freely in the water. Seeing this, Zhuangzi can't help but imagine the happiness of fish. However, Hui Shi was obviously not a believer in romanticism, but responded to Zhuangzi with a realistic attitude, which created this famous debate at home and abroad. The dialogue between two people can also be regarded as the correspondence between romanticism and its reactionaries!
Menet, the only important writer in Germany, whose parents were Jews in the municipal system, later converted to Christianity for convenience. Like Shelley and Byron, Menet is an individualist and a ruthless critic of conservatism. It devoted almost all its active life to what he likes to call the "People's Liberation War". But he is not only a witty satirist, but also a sharp critic of complacency and reaction. In his song collection, he showed warm and melancholy lyrical genius and charming musical charm that few people could surpass at that time. He is vividly called "the nightingale who nests in Voltaire's wig".
Music and art are similar to literature, which witnessed the rise of romanticism in the first decade of19th century. Romantic people don't really regard music as objective beauty. They mainly express people's spiritual realm with others. Music should not only arouse the interest of the audience, but also arouse their singing. Musicians try to grasp all aspects of nature with music, first of all, people's emotions and enthusiasm. To some extent, composers, like poets, respond to the exciting political dramas around them. It is worth noting that romanticism in music first found an appropriate expression in lyric style-piano music and songs. This is a response to a large symphony form that conforms to the logical structure. Since Beethoven, the formidable defender of large symphonies, defends the doors of large symphonies like an insurmountable defender, the romantic spirit can only slowly enter chamber music and symphonies.
Although Zhuangzi didn't involve music, the similarity between him and western romantics is that they both attach importance to the expression of spirit. Compared with Zhuangzi's exposition of introducing fables into readers' hearts, romantic musicians also use piano music and songs to express their lyrical style, which successfully aroused the surging enthusiasm of the audience. When Beethoven's destiny symphony was played, the thunderous applause was deafening. Although Beethoven couldn't hear it himself, he saw it.
Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, but he spent most of his creative time in Vienna. Poverty and strict father made his childhood life full of misfortune. As an adult, he encountered a series of difficulties, mainly because of his unrealistic personality and bad temper. Casual clothes are often unreasonable, and they are too sensitive and suspicious, often pretending to be ignored by their closest friends, thus hurting each other's feelings. Although it has these characters, it can still win the loyalty of friends, attract men and women in Vienna and bow to him.
Zhuangzi is as casual as Beethoven. Zhuang Zhou wore a patched coarse coat and a pair of worn shoes tied with hemp rope to see Wang Wei. Wang Wei said, "Why are you so down and out? Zhuang Zhou said: "I am poor, not down and out. If a scholar can't practice his ideals, he is down and out. Wearing coarse clothes and worn shoes is poverty, not poverty. It can be said that it is bad luck. 」
Zhuang Zhou is a wild and open-minded person. He has seen through life and death and wants to be at ease. He said: "Heaven and earth are born with me, and everything is one with me. No matter how the world changes, it is the same. There is nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to be excited about; This is his philosophy. He values nature, not others. So Xun Kuang criticized him and said, "Zhuangzi doesn't understand people at all. "This is very appropriate.
There are also some people in the west who are as open-minded as Zhuangzi and live a free and carefree life. Schubert, a famous German musician, is one of them. [Note 2]
After Schubert left his parents, he lived a romantic Hippocratic life with a group of like-minded poets, painters and singers. They are always poor, always working and always full of hope. Among these close friends, there may be three people with a hat and five people with a wallet, but people mistakenly view their carefree life with narrow eyes. A group of people abandoned by society lead a different life, in which they die one by one. These people live freely, but this kind of life does not conform to the way formulated by the bourgeoisie. They are not demanding. They get together to play music in the evening and go to the countryside together when the weather is good. In the countryside, one afternoon, Schubert would write down six songs and waltzes at the back of the menu in a country hotel. Schubert's music officially reflects the beauty of Venice and the rhythm of life.
Zhuangzi continued Laozi's reverence for nature and advocated that people should contact nature more and appreciate its greatness. Romantic writers and painters also agree with his views and show them in their works.
Romantic literature has the deepest origin in Britain. Wordsworth and Coleridge are two great pioneers of English romantic literature in the early19th century. Wordsworth is famous for his mysterious worship of nature. He not only worships the beauty on the surface of nature, but also regards nature as the concrete embodiment of the spirit of the universe. This universal spirit unites all living things in a sacred relationship. He believes that the worship of nature by the senses can make people understand the sublimity of life more deeply, so as to hear "the quiet and sad music of human beings", thus enhancing love and sympathy for the same kind. Coleridge's special gift is to make the strange and grotesque world credible. Although he sometimes walks in the dense forest of metaphysics, his mysterious poem Ode to an Ancient Ship has succeeded in creating the most vivid and imaginative works in English. This book shows Coleridge's extraordinary talent. He succeeded in combining delicate, almost feminine feelings with strange, supernatural fears and descriptions of ghosts and ghosts from the dim depths of people's feelings, tormenting people with an isolated feeling. 」
The representative of the romantic landscape painter is Camier? Koro (1796- 1875). He is the leader of barbizon, and barbizon is named after a village near Paris. Other painters who follow this tradition are Turner of England (1775- 185 1). Romantic landscape painters, like Delacroix, are addicted to expressing their emotionalism, but the tone of their emotionalism is relatively calm. They are poets of nature, and their forests, streams and mountains are covered with a thin mist, which fully expresses their reverence for nature.
The ancient people's evaluation of Zhuangzi is obviously as Sima Qian's Historical Records said in the Han Dynasty: its thoughts are mainly rooted in Laozi. And often attack satirical Confucianism and Mohism. Xun Qing (situation) in wartime said that Zhuangzi's theory paid attention to nature and neglected the role of human beings. From these comments, we can understand the general idea of his theory.
ⅲ. Conclusion:
Judging from the above evidence, the close relationship between Zhuangzi and romanticism has been generally clear. Although I didn't find any papers to support my argument, we can clearly see the inseparable relationship between the two through the records of historical books and the textual research of later generations and comparing Chinese and foreign books. Unfortunately, few people pay attention to this key point. If xu teacher hadn't ordered this topic, I wouldn't have found that Zhuangzi can also be regarded as a romantic scholar!
A closer look reveals that Hui Shi and Zhuangzi have different emphases. Zhuangzi is more casual, let his mind run freely everywhere, make good use of his rich imagination, and write fables in short but meaningful words, which is more convincing than other dogmatic words. Moreover, the irony of killing people without seeing blood is especially unique. But Keiko is different. He is not as casual as Zhuangzi. So although they are good friends, they can also have some similarities with romanticism and its reactionaries. Have you noticed?
Maybe after the end of this semester, or even after the completion of this report, my fate with Zhuangzi has been exhausted, and I will never have a chance to contact him again, but I still like the fresh and natural attitude of Taoism. If there is an opportunity, I will tell others. Under the guidance of teacher Xu Fuchang, I found that Zhuangzi turned out to be a romantic! ┘
Ⅳ. Precautions:
Note 1: namely "Debate between Hao Liang", originally from "Autumn Water".
Note 2: Schubert and Beethoven lived in the same program, and he was the only musician who was as famous as him at that time, but Schubert was so afraid of Beethoven that he never had the courage to talk to him. There are many incomparable masterpieces in his eight symphonies, but only opera does not fully show all his talents.
Verb (abbreviation for verb) bibliography:
Teacher Xu Fuchang's lecture notes.
Lao Zi Zhuangzi, edited by Yan Lingfeng, Zhong Zheng Bookstore.
In the middle of the bookstore, Yan Lingfeng edited Notes on Zhuangzi.
Zhuangzi set interpretation, clear. Guo Qingfan, Wang Xiaoyu, Muduo Press.
History of Contemporary Civilization (IV) edited by Luo Guozhi, Huayan Publishing House.
ⅵ. Testimony:
It's 3: 28 am on March 26th, and the report is finally nearing the completion stage, except for this speech. It was originally scheduled to be completed on March 24th, but it was completed at the last minute.
I regret choosing this topic, because there is too little information to find a paper that puts Zhuangzi and romanticism together. Although it took me only five days to write this report (the preface was written on 16, and the text was started on the 22nd), the fatigue of these five days is indescribable. But all the efforts disappeared with the completion of the report.
When I finished my last report, I made up my mind that I must start looking for information in advance for next semester's report, and I can't cram for it. Unexpectedly, it took ten days last time, and only five days this time. It's getting worse every time.
In fact, although I finished this report in a hurry, I gained a lot. I have learned that Zhuangzi's thoughts and literature are full of1the characteristics and lifestyle of romantics in the early 9th century. The works of Beethoven, Hugo, Meniere, Goethe and Schiller are more or less similar to those of Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi had such romantic thoughts more than two thousand years ago, and he was the originator of romanticism. Unfortunately, few people pay attention to this, which makes us children have to collect all the history of the West and Zhuangzi to achieve this article.
Anyway, I can finally unload this heavy burden and spend Youth Day happily. I only hope that I can successfully pass the final exam, draw a rest and smoothly enter another milestone in my life.
Seven. Appendix:
one
Zhuangzi was poor and had a hard life, so he went to Jianhe Hou to borrow rice. Hou Jianhe said: ┌ Nothing! I can lend you three hundred and twenty pieces of silver, when I ask the market for tax, ok? ┘ Zhuangzi got angry at once and said angrily, ┌ When I came here yesterday, someone called me on the road. I turned around and saw a fish under the wheel. I asked him what he was doing. The fish replied: ┌, I am the water god of the East China Sea. Do you have a liter and a half of water to save me? "I said," Well, I'll go to the south, and I can persuade the King of Wu and the King of Yue to draw water from the Xijiang River to help you, okay? The fish said with an angry and cold face, "I lost my normal life in the water. Now I have no choice but to save me with one and a half liters of water." If you say so, why didn't you come to the market earlier? 』┘
two
Perhaps the most representative English romantic poets are Keats, Shelley and Byron. Keats, unlike most of his contemporaries, equated beauty with enthusiasm for thought, which was similar to the Greek view. The essence of his creed. Reflected in the famous poem Ode to an Ancient Greek Urn: "Beauty is truth, truth is beauty-that's all you know in this world, that's all you need to know." His idea is ideal beauty; Whether flowers wither or youth wither, the ideal beauty will never die. Shelley and Byron are more interested in political and social issues. Although they come from the upper class, they are all traitors to stubborn conservatism, and they enthusiastically call for justice and freedom with their talents. Shelley was expelled from Oxford University on the charge of anarchism and became a philosophical anarchist in the next few years. A follower of godwin. Although he finally corrected some radicalism in his youth, his thoughts wandered more and more in the hazy abstract world, and he never gave up his hatred of injustice and his yearning for the golden dawn of joy and freedom. Sir Byron, who succeeded to the title of Baron at the age of ten, is a poet with rebellious spirit, romantic courage and cynicism towards human beings. He not only represented the romantic spirit of this era with his arrogant personality, but also surrounded his life and straightforward and bold poems with scandals. He died in the war for freedom for the Greeks. His death was the most appropriate climax of his short and adventurous life.