浅议《京华烟云》的“道”

Abstract

Lin Yutang advocated the thought of “It ought to be order” of Taoism of Moment in Peking, with Confucianism as foil. The overall structure of the whole book was the philosophy of Chuangtse. It indicated the particular opinions how Taoists think of property ,pleasure-seeking, life and death, love and marriage. It illustrated clearly Taoists' philosophy ideas of their optimistic and magnanimous attitudes towards life What’s more, the author’s characteristic in introducing traditional Chinese culture to the west is using the form of novel, by which he created a variety of typical and lively characters.

Key words: Lin Yutang; Moment in Peking; Taoism

中文摘要

林语堂在《京华烟云》中以儒家思想为陪衬，弘扬了“顺应天道”的道家思想。全书以“庄周哲学”为笼络，透露出了道家对待财富、享乐、生死及婚恋的独特观点，阐明并推崇了道家思想达观豁然、心胸宽广的哲学理念。本书采用小说的艺术表现方法，塑造了形象鲜明、性格不一的人物是作者向西方人介绍中国传统文化的独到之处。

关键词：林语堂；《京华烟云》； 道

Introduction

Lin Yutang, born in Long Xi, Zhang Zhou, south of Fujian in 1895, was the son of Pastor Lin Zhicheng He first studied in free missionary schools in Xiamen, and then went to Shanghai St.John's University where he learned English by heart and read a lot of western books. When he graduated from St.John's University in 1916, Yutang accepted a teaching post at QingHua College in Beijing. There he found himself surrounded by Chinese history and realized how small the confines of his Christian education had been. Determined to make up to his inadequacy, he began to study traditional Chinese culture and became interested in philosophy of Chuangtse particularly.

In the literary world, Lin Yutang was one of the well-known writers, who was listed as one of the 'wisdom Figure' in 20th century in American Literature Area. In 1975, in the 41st International association of Poets, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists (PEN), he was selected as General assistant President of the association. And what's more, he was nominated for the candidate of Nobel Literature Prize. One of Yutang' s friends said that, the strong point of Yutan was to introduce Chinese culture to the foreigners and in return, to introduce foreign culture to the Chinese. Lin Yutang himself agreed to this completely. He used his own words: "two feet to cross over the eastern and western culture; One heart to comment the global articles." before 1936, he devoted most of his time and energy to bringing Chinese culture to the world. Many of his great works written in English such as My Country and My People. The Art of Living, Moment in Peking enjoyed great popularity in the west .He did contribute a lot to the exchange of eastern and western culture.

Chapter1. Correlative Introduction of

Moment in Peking

Moment in Peking was written in 1938, when the Sino-Japanese war broke out. Mr. Lin's daughter Lin Rusi recalled:" In the spring of 1938, an idea to translate the Red chamber Dream dawned on my father after careful consideration, he found that The Red Chamber Dream was written long ago from now, so he changed his mind to write a novel which reflect the mordent life of China.”[3] The westerners could understand this novel more easily because the time and the background this novel set on was close to the author’s day. In March of 1938, Lin Yutang began to design the characters and plot of the novel. After five-month fermentation, he started to write on 8th, August of 1939. It cost Lin a whole year totally. This great work that Lin Yutang shed his heart’s blood on was the most beautiful and most fresh flower in the garden of Lin’s novels.

This shining flower was rooted in the soil of national spirit and patriotism. It was written at the beginning of Sino-Japanese War, which decided the importance of patriotism. Lin Yutang revealed his motive of production of this novel in the letter to Yu Dafu , that is , to remember the brave soldiers in the front who died for our nation. Lin Yutang believed that an intellects of China, during the vital moment, he should connect his own fate to that of his motherland. He also believed that as a writer, the sharpest weapon was the pen and the works. In this book the author intended to tell the west how china the big and old nation, experienced the great pains, suffering and still made the progress bit by bit in a certain particular time (from early to mid of the 20th century). So in this novel, we can read many Chinese history stories such as Boxer Rebellion, The May 4th Movement of 1919, etc. The author showed us an especial life attitude of “Tao” through the description of different life attitudes and experience of different characters from different families in a certain time. The author believed that thought of Tao school was a very particular kind thought in that time because it was in a sense superior to Confucianism which had been playing a predominant role in China over a long time especially the feudal Confucian ethical code which constrains and stifles human nature. What’s more, some of its views embodied democracy, freedom, independence of personality, all of which the west pursue. In this sense, thoughts of Tao School and the western culture have something in common while they have their own characteristics. In a word, Moment in Peking is the vehicle of thoughts of Lin Yutan. That's to say; this novel indicates the author’s thinking. Lin Yutang’s daughter Lin Rusi said in her book On Moment In Peking: “Life is like a dream” was the gist of Moment In Peking. But as a matter of fact, the opinion of Lin Yutang’s own was not completely similar to that of his daughter. He became greatly aware of the changeable nature of things and human beings on the basis of the objectives of Taoism, aware of the brevity of life, and of ultimate nihility, without negating the relative meaning of life. Meanwhile, on the basis of the view of taking things philosophically and naturalism, on the condition of looking into the real side of life, he advocated to follow the big Way, to liberate spirit, and to live a happy life, which should be pointed out as an important thought of Lin Yutang’s philosophy of life. The actor, Yao Si'an, the Taoist and his elder daughter, Yao Milan are of Lin Yutang ' s favorite. The author once said:" If I were a woman, I would be MuLan."[4]Yao Mulan therefore becomes the perfect woman image in his eyes. And this kind of perfection is not only due to her appearance. The more important factor is her character of magnanimity, open mind, optimism, humor sense, innocence and full of imagination, which form under the influence of his father’s Taoist thought. These thoughts and personalities are greater and more glamorous in the society in which the Confucianism predominates.

Chapter2. The embodiment of “Tao” in

Moment In Peking

Thought of Tao School is not only an important part of Chinese thought but also becomes an international one "Taoism accounts for a side of the Chinese Character which Confucianism cannot satisfy.”[5] There is a natural romanticism and a natural classicism in a nation, as in an inspanidual. Taoism is the romantic school of Chinese thought, as Confucianism is the classic school. Actually, Taoism is romantic throughout. Firstly, it stands for the return to nature and the romantic escape from the world, and revolt against the artificiality and responsibilities Confucian culture. Secondly, it stands for the rural ideal of life, art and literature, and the worship of primitive simplicity. And thirdly, it stands for the world of fancy and wonder, coupled with a childishly naive cosmogony."[6]In the culture of Tao School, “Tao” is the origin of everything, is existing and long-lasting. LaoTzu said in his Tao Te Ching:" Tao gave birth to the one, the one gave birth successively to two things, three things, up to ten thousand (i.e., everything)."[7]That is why Taoists insist on always being natural. They believe that everything is decided by nature, by their fate, but not by themselves. So-called 'good fortune' and 'bad fortune' are the same in their eyes. Because they know that "It is upon bad fortune that good fortune leans, upon good fortune that bad fortune rests"[8] There fore," to do nothing ""to love by quietude"." to act only by inactivity"." to have no wants" become their motto. Through this novel we can see clearly that thought of Tao School really affect Taoists' views of material and property, pleasure-seeking, life and death, love and marriage. Below it will be analyzed from these four aspects.

I. View of material and property

II. View of pleasure-seeking

On one hand, Tao School considers consumption of material as human being’s essential and natural pursuit. In scientific sense, limited and simple consumption can maintain human’s life activity, which is normal condition of life." On the other hand, Tao School considers returning to Nature to be the zenith of theoretic interest, so Nature is logically contained in the process of life for “Tao”, which generates inextricably their approving and advocating pleasure of life."[13]And enough satisfaction with Nature' forms the view of pleasure. Chuangtse always praises that: “Be full first, and then go on a pleasure tour.” Pursuing enjoyment of material is an essential and correct human need. However, the health of body is not contrary to the quiets of heart. In the balance of structure of body and heart, the two elements are of the same importance. “The people should be contented with their food, pleased with their clothing, satisfied with their homes, should take pleasure in their rustic tasks.”[14] What’s more, simplicity and fewness of desires are raised to a near level of ontology. In this sense, limitation of desires becomes a pursuit of one’s own. Laotzu advocates “knowledge less and desire less” life, he thinks: “Only by knowing when it is time to stop can danger be avoided.” He said: “To be content with what one has are, and no one can despoil you; who stops in time nothing can harm. He is forever safe and secure.” “No lure is greater than disaster greater than not to be content with what one has, no presage of evil greater than that men should be wanting to get more.” So truly: “He who has once known the contentment that comes simply through being content, will never again be otherwise than contented.” In the book, there are many details description showing such an opinion. For instance, at the beginning of the book mentioning the original presence of the two Yao’s daughters." The beautiful young woman appeared again with two girls, both dressed very simply in white cotton jackets, one with green, and the other with void trousers."[15] Generally speaking, the daughters of the rich family are all "golden branches and jade leaves". So they will probably dress up themselves with jewels. However, we can see obviously the dressing difference of the two sisters from others through the word "simply". What's more, Mr. Lao doesn't advocate, "binding feet", either. He thinks that "binding feet" is a corrupt custom which destroy severely the Chinese women's health. Therefore, his daughters didn't bind feet since childhood; instead, they let their feet develop naturally. This view is totally different from Confucian view of thinking" binding feet "to be "women's character". As for Yao Si’an, he likes collecting antiques, and so on. To sum up, the Taoists' view of pleasure seeking is to be natural.

III. View of life and death

In Chuangtse's opinion, human's life and death depend on fate, that is to say "Death and life is fate." (From Chuangtse. Master). A man’s birth doesn’t act for himself, because he himself doesn’t exist at all at that time. Self comes from nothing, after one’s birth, there has been an “I”, “I” come to this world being stark naked. What am “I”, “I”’ arrival doesn’t get the permission of self. This kind of pure passive existence is fate itself. At the end of life, different from the time of birth, we have the ability to decide. But when we each face one’s death, does Death once talk it over with you and get your permission? No! It seems that we can choose a small amount of ways of death, but we cannot choose to live permanently, this, is fate, too. All the scientific rules point out the truth, the unchangeable truth. Facing the tremendous unknown field that is before birth and after death, a kind of drifting sense towards life cannot be avoided. That is the reason why Tao School sets human beings on “fate”. When LaoTzu talked about “fate”, he said, “Return to the root from which they grew. This return to the root is called quietness;

IV. View of love and marriage

Taoists believe that” It happened of its own accord” even in the view of love and marriage. At all times and in all lands, love has been a permanent topic. Red Chamber Dream, the great Traditional Chinese novels, is lined with the love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. From the beginning to the end of the book Moment in Peking that owns 700,000 characters, there are mainly four marriages worth of mentioning. Are these marriages successful or complete failing? What are their results? The original reasons of success and failure are worth of exploring. Among these marriages, these are several women images that have lively personality and queer way of thinking. Their views of love vary. Some of them sacrifice all their time for “love”, some die for love, and some one conceal her love deeply in their heart. Love is the same, but the way of love differ from one to another .Now, let’s trace their origins in fact, they are determined by different thoughts, Confucianism or thought of Tao school.

According to the author’s description, Mannia was a true product of Confucianism. Her parents were both Confucians .She was brought up by her father, got a full old education of women. Mannia accepted what the feudal Confucian ethical code had given her: “Women’s character”, ”Women’s speech”, ”Women’s appearance”, “Women’s accomplishment”. What’s more, she bound a small pair of feet. Masters of Tseng families’ were crazy about superstitious belief. When their elder son was dying, they believed that “Tsunghsi ” could make Ping Ya recover. That’s why they let PingYa marry young Mannia. After Ping Ya died, Mannia went into another Confucian family from the previous one. During the whole process, no one came out to pretest for her. There was an opinion in her mind, which was :I live as daughter-in –law of Tseng family, I die as daughter-in –law of Tseng family, too. Mannia remained unmarried. She was alone; she never went to the back garden surrounded by high walls, because his father told her that in opera of novels almost all the degeneration of girls and amorous encounters took place in the back garden. One day, Mannia was persuaded by MuLan and Sunya to go to see the foreign film together. She enjoyed herself very much that day because she had never seen such an interesting new thing. But her father-in-law got furious. He thought she had done what a widow should not do. Mannia did not breathe a word to protest. Instead, she thought it wrong all her fault indeed. She spent rest of her life with her adopted son and finally ended her life by herself because the Japanese intruders’ base conducts. The happiness of such a beautiful, pure, kind-hearted, gentle woman was "eaten" by so-called “feudal Confucian ethical code”. Is Mania is only tragic girl produced by feudal Confucian ethical code. The answer is absolutely “No”. The author regards “the classical beauty” as the weapon of criticism. He criticizes those ridiculous and deep-rooted ethical codes of Confucianism.

Another tragedy of love happened to a young master and his maid. Tiren, the elder young master of Yao family, had been spoiled since a child and formed a supercilious and arrogant personality of doing things as what he liked. Silversreen, who was brought to Yao family as a maid by Mulan’s uncle who she was only three, served Tiren since a child. She was three years older than him. She was clever, capable and beautiful, too. They fell in love with each other when they grew up. Tiren meaned to marry Silverscreen. But Tiren’s mother who was strongly affected by the conception didn’t agree. She thought there was great difference between master and maid, and marriage should be according to the custom of “well-matched” in social and economic status. She considered Silverscreen’ behavior to be "A posy toad ticking of eating swan flesh!"She was inexorable to hinder their development. At lasting, owing to the reason that Mrs.Yao robbed Silverscreen’s child, which forced her to suicide .It should had been a good match, if Mrs.Yao hadn’t prevent them, and the tragedy would had not happened. Another product of Confucian school that Lin created was Mrs.Yao, whose later half-life was miserable .She had to take the responsibility of what she did. What’s more, Tiren and Silverscreen loved each sincerely. Tiren had his own advantage, that is, he was kind and took love seriously. He was able to try his best to get ahead to peruse his real love over all the obstacle of feudal Confucian ethical code, which is admirable. The character Silverscreen also accords with he demands of perusing the equality of personality and freedom of marriage during the period of the May 4th Movement of 1919.

Suppose that the two marriages above were caused by feudal ethical code of Confucianism, the following two marriages, on the contrary, followed the advice of “Tao”. In this novel, Lin Yutang characterizes a perfect women image---- Yao Mulan, who is called “the daughter of the Taoist”. From Mulan, we can see what is perfect woman in the author’s eye. Therefore, the author uses more words on her. Since a child, educated and influenced by her father, Mulan freed herself from kinds of feudal ethical Confucian code and old customs. She might be a woman out of the ordinary at that time. She learned embroider from her mother. She had a lot of other skills to whistle, to sing Beijing Opera, to collect and appreciate antique. She was deeply affected by thought of Tao School. Her father told her:" When you yourself are right, nothing that happens to you can ever be wrong." It became MuLan’ s lifetime motto. She derived optimism and courage from this sentence. She believed that there was such a beautiful world .We must fight and endure it .She was optimistic and open-minded because she was imperceptibly influenced by thought of Tao school. Facing ups and downs of life, she could always keep such a state of mind: be browns of life, unrestrained and natural, Thought she didn’t marry the man she loved, she still believed that" It happened of its own accord" and that a person’s fate had been arranged ahead of time. Though the readers may consider this as a regrettable imperfection, but imperfection is a sort of beauty. So she took the “regrettable imperfection” as a kind of “beauty” concealing it in the heart, enjoying it quietly and secretly. Although Sun Ya and she might not be a perfect couple, they could be a suitable one .She always looked forward to the peaceful idyllic life embraced by hill and water. What's more, Milan showed her magnanimous virtue when her husband Sonya cheated her and had paramour Cao Lihue. With the help of her father Mr., she carried out an ingenious scheme to make Lihue quit actively and willingly. In addition, when the author creates the character Cao Lihue, he has two purposes: one is to show Milan’s magnanimous virtue; the other is that although Cao Lihue has been in love with Sonya, she refused to become his concubine which in a sense embodies the new woman demands the equality of men and women and “one husband, one wife” in terms of marriage during the time of the time of the May 4th Movement.

Judging solely from the marriage of Tire and Cilverscreen, they fought against traditional conception at great price .It seem that Mrs.Yao on behalf of Confucian power prevailed. However, if we look into the combination of Afei and Baofen, it is not the case. Afei and Hongyu was a pair of playing companies who had been an innocent affection for each other since child hood. Hong yu' s personality was similar to that of Lin Daimyo in Red Chamber Dream. She was sentimental and susceptible and had been ill since child and nearly took medicine everyday, but she was talented. She loved Afei deeply in her heart, meanwhile, she felt inferior because of her illness, and envied Paofen. At last, she drowned herself for a miserable misunderstanding. As for the marriage of Afei and Hongyu, Mr.Yao had his own view. One day Mulan told him "Fourth sister is not so well, you know it is time that they were engaged". Old Yao remained silent, thinking, his eyes very distant, and then he said, "You still have this idea of “ tsunqhsi”. It did not work in the case of Mannia, didn't it? Wait until she is better” their opinions about the similar things are to tally different .The Tsengs, who were influenced strongly by the Confucian thought, through their son's illness only could be only by the traditional way of "tsunghsi" so they would rather sacrifice Mannia' s whole happy life for the roundless hope .On the contrary, Mr.Yao was very aware of the nonsense of “tsunghsi”. What he said “Wait better a little" indicated his thought of “happening naturally”. Later, he also considered the marriage of Afei and Baofen to be happening naturally, so when Mrs.Yao didn't look down upon Baofen for her identity of maid and assented to their marriage, Mr. made use of the opportunity to gain his end.

Chapter3. The feature of “Tao”’ introduction in the book

One thing worthies mentioning is that the way the author introduces traditional Chinese culture to the west takes the form of novel, in which he creates a series of typical and lively characters and specific thought. If the two books written by Lin, My Country and My People and The Art of Living introduce Chinese tradition to the west in the form of prose, Moment In Peking then describes detailed Chinese historic culture to the west in the form of art image. The author applies the way of Chinese traditional novel, which is out of date for the Chinese, but is new and novel for the western people. Therefore, as for the type of the book, it is a novel of more than 70,000 words. Why did the author write the book by the form of novel? He ascribes it to the features of the type of novel. Comparing with other types, the type of novel has artistic appeal that is to strike root in the hearts of readers. So, he thinks there is not better form than novel that is so vivid that can make reader seem to be participating. The novel is like a silent guider who shows the western people to appreciate various scenes at render.

As for “Tao”, a kind of traditional thought of China is totally new to the western people. It is hard to understand for them. For it is kind of abstract thought, which was produced thousands of years ago. It was expressed in the classical literary style. How did the author deal with this? Firstly, the author translated the ancient Chinese prose into modern and easy English. It embodied in the structure of the novel. The novel was spanided into three sections. Each section began with a passage extract from Zhuangtse. The first section began with the extract from the Master .Its original content is that “在太极之先而不为高，在六极之下而不为深，先天地生而不为久，长于上古而不为老。”The author translated it into that “To Tao， the zenith is not high， nor the nadir now ；no point in time is long ago，nor lapse of ages has it grown old” The second section began with the extract from the essay on “Relativity” by Chuangtse. Its original content is that “梦饮酒者,旦而哭泣; 梦哭泣者,旦而田猎, 是旦暮遇之也.” The author translated it into that “Those who dream of lamentation and sorrow wake to join the hunt. This is a paradox. Tomorrow a sage may arise to explain it; but that tomorrow will not be until ten thousands generations have gone by. Yet you may meet him any day just around the comer.” The third section began with the extract from The Northern Travels Of Knowledge by Chuangtse. It original content is that “故万物一也,是其所美者为神奇,其所恶者为臭腐;是腐烂腐化为神奇,神奇复化为臭腐.” The author translated it into that “Therefore all things are one. What we love is the mystery of life. What we hate is corruption in death. But the corruptible in its turn becomes mysterious life, and this mysterious life once more becomes corruptible.” Comparing the original contents with the translation. We can see that Lin Yutang spread “Tao” exactly according to his thorough understanding.

Secondly, the author introduced Taoism through comparing it to Confucianism in the book. He distinguishes the two kinds of thought according to his own specific understanding: “Taoism and science were the two great enthusiasm of Mr.Yao, and were somehow completely harmonized in his mind. Perhaps this was natural, because Taoism showed an interest in nature, its endless procession of the seasons, its laws of growth and decay, the spanersity of its creatures and the mystery of the infinite and the infinitesimal. Its cosmos was a cosmos of change and flux and interaction between conflicting forces, obeying the silent laws of an impersonal, nameless, speechless god with should not have been named at all, but which the Taoists were forced to call by the name of ‘Tao’, while insisting that it was unnamed and unnamable. Mr.Yao’s idea was that with Western science now opening up the mysteries of nature, Lifu, as a young man, should not miss the opportunity of delving into the new discoveries.”[18] At the beginning of this passage, the author revealed clearly natural distinguishment in a short sentence that is “Taoism showed an interest in nature”, “Confucianism was interest only in human relationships, in literature and history”. And then he explains it concretely. At last he states that the change and interaction of the nature follows all the rule of “Tao”. In a word, Lin Yutang succeeded in creating a kind of art atmosphere full of both interest of English and Chinese spirit, which the western readers acquire the Chinese culture by a real and perfect English.

Conclusion

Moment in Peking is wholly covered with" the philosophy of Chuangtse ". The author Lin Yutang thinks, the most ideal Chinese scholar is the one who takes life philosophically on the basis of wisdom and insight. This kind of philosophy can generate a magnanimous mind, which makes a person lives his life with an soft attitude, discarding position and wealth and living a happy and satisfactory life. Meanwhile, this kind of philosophy also creates perception of freedom, favor of unconventional and unrest raining and attitude of loftiness and indifference. Only one owns such kind of freedom and indifference can he enjoy the happy life ardently. This is so-called real “Tao” .The two main characters are inoculated with the author's ideal of life. Such kind of ideal is also the zenith of life the scholar of China has been pursuing for thousands of years.

Although Tao thoughts was created in a particular period and had its on limitation, the attitude towards life philosophically, cherishing life, the idea of treating life atomically and magnanimous mind make great sense of enlighteners and have unfailing value of enlightening. In all, thoughts of Tao School will not vanish with the paying of times, its thoughts of Tao and remark of wisdom will be sure to produce completely new and gain the whole new explanation of meaning in the new times and centuries.

Bibliography

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[9] Lin Yutang. Moment in Peking [M]. Peking: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,1999,p7。

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[11] 同[9]，P365。

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[14] 同[7]，P168。

[15] 同[9]，P5。

[18] 同[9]，P603。