|
|
|
| An Examination of “Zuoru” in Fayan |
| Wu Huixin, Wang Yunlu |
| Research Institute for Ancient Books, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China |
|
|
|
|
Abstract The Fayan was authored by Yang Xiong, a renowned scholar of the Han Dynasty. The term “zuoru” (捽茹) in the text has been subject to diverse interpretations by scholars of earlier periods, and a definitive conclusion has yet to be reached. Upon reviewing the perspectives of previous scholars, it is evident that the root cause of the disagreement lies in the lack of harmony between the combination of “zuo” (捽) and “ru” (茹) at the lexical level. Consequently, scholars during the Qing Dynasty commenced speculating that the character 捽 in the word was a Tongjia character.The original definition of “zuo” is to grasp and pull someone’s hair. In the context of lexical evolution, the term “zuo” has the potential to evolve towards a generalized meaning of “to pull out, to grasp and hold”. Nevertheless, an examination of the literature from the Pre-Qin and Han Periods indicates a limited generalization of the meaning of “zuo”. There is only one instance in The History of the Han Dynasty where the act of “zuo” is not targeted towards a specific body part. This situation has persisted without change even in subsequent periods. The term “ru” has the capacity to function as both a noun and a verb. Hence, there are two perspectives regarding the structure of “zuoru”: the verb-object structure and the parallel structure.“Zuoru” is an allusion word. According to the traditional perspective, “danpiao” (箪瓢) and “zuoru” are believed to have originated from the same allusion to the deeds of Yan Yuan as documented in the Analects of Confucius. In this paper, a new perspective is proposed: “danpiao zuoru” (箪瓢捽茹) is actually comprised of two allusions, with danpiao originating from The Analects of Confucius, and “zuoru” from The Works of Mencius. The term “zuoru” serves as an alternative expression for “rucao” (茹草). This observation can be illustrated by analyzing the ideological content present in the text of Fayan. The primary theme of this passage in Fayan is the unwavering moral character of Yan Yuan, who remained steadfast in his convictions regardless of his financial status. Yan Yuan led a life of destitution, yet he was perceived to possess the same virtues as Shun. The two men are frequently compared by people.The transformation of “rucao” into “zuoru” is a crucial link. There is only one instance documented in the literature of the Qin and Han Dynasties where the target of the “zuo” action is not the human body, but rather the weeds. The minor distinction lies in the fact that the “cao” (草) mentioned in The Works of Mencius refers to wild and edible vegetation. The term “rucao” refers to the act of consuming wild vegetables, while “zuoru” denotes the action of gathering and consuming wild vegetables. Essentially, the two terms have the same meaning. The term “ru” typically denotes cultivated vegetables, while “zuo” conveys the idea of “grass”. Therefore, “zuoru” specifically denotes the gathering of wild vegetables, as opposed to cultivated ones. The brilliance of Yang Xiong’s use of words is evident in this context.This paper also examines the use of “zuoru” as an allusion word in subsequent generations. Based on the literature, it appears that this term has not been used for nearly a millennium. The use of this word by literati began in the Song Dynasty, coinciding with the increased value placed on Fayan. Sima Guang, a renowned scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, expressed great admiration for Yang Xiong and undertook the compilation of a book titled Fayan Jizhu (法言集注).By examining the historical trajectory of the emergence and decline of the allusion word “zuoru”, three primary insights are gleaned. Firstly, the allusion word is intricately linked to literature, and its impact has fluctuated across different periods. The heightened influence of literature serves as a significant external catalyst in the development of allusion words. Secondly, a crucial internal factor that influences the popularity of words is rooted in the language itself, specifically in the clarity of semantic meaning. Ambiguity in semantic meaning and lack of clarity in structure can have a detrimental impact on the use and reception of allusive language. Furthermore, the investigation of the historical development of the Chinese language encompasses the analysis of the origins and obsolescence of lexical items. This task encompasses not only ascertaining the time of their inception and discontinuation, but also comprehending the factors contributing to their establishment and wane.
|
|
Received: 22 January 2024
|
|
|
|
1 汪荣宝： 《法言义疏》，北京：中华书局，1987年。
2 扬雄： 《法言》，韩敬译注，北京：中华书局，2012年。
3 扬雄： 《宋本扬子法言》，北京：国家图书馆出版社，2019年。
4 许慎： 《说文解字》，北京：中华书局，2020年。
5 毛亨传、郑玄笺： 《毛诗传笺》，北京：中华书局，2018年。
6 洪颐煊： 《读书丛录》，杭州：浙江古籍出版社，2019年。
7 俞樾： 《诸子平议》，北京：中华书局，1954年。
8 罗竹风主编： 《汉语大词典》，上海：上海大词典出版社，2001年。
9 郭象注、成玄英疏： 《南华真经注疏》，北京：中华书局，1998年。
10 王先谦： 《荀子集解》，北京：中华书局，1988年。
11 范祥雍： 《战国策笺证》，上海：上海古籍出版社，2006年。
12 许维遹： 《吕氏春秋集释》，北京：中华书局，2009年。
13 班固： 《汉书》，北京：中华书局，1962年。
14 程树德： 《论语集释》，北京：中华书局，1990年。
15 朱熹： 《四书章句集注》，北京：中华书局，2015年。
16 陈祥道： 《论语全解》，见《影印文渊阁四库全书》第196册，台北：台湾商务印书馆，1986年。
17 吴澄： 《易纂言》，见北京大学《儒藏》编纂与研究中心编： 《儒藏（精华编）》第5册，北京：北京大学出版社，2014年。
18 罗钦顺： 《困知记》，北京：中华书局，1990年。
19 郝懿行： 《尔雅义疏》，济南：齐鲁书社，2010年。
20 何宁： 《淮南子集释》，北京：中华书局，1998年。
21 杨明照： 《抱朴子外篇校笺》，北京：中华书局，1991年。
22 李昉等编： 《文苑英华》，北京：中华书局，1966年。
23 李焘： 《续资治通鉴长编》，北京：中华书局，2004年。
24 脱脱等： 《金史》，北京：中华书局，1975年。
25 赵岐注、孙奭疏： 《孟子注疏》，见阮元校刻： 《十三经注疏》，北京：中华书局，2009年。
26 陈士珂辑： 《孔子家语疏证》，崔涛点校，南京：凤凰出版社，2017年。 |
|
|
|
2024, Vol. 54 
