When commenting on The Romance of The Three Kingdoms, Mao Zonggang often compares the Romance of The Three Kingdoms with other different kinds of works, so as to reveal the artistic uniqueness of The Romance of The Three Kingdoms, which is of great enlightenment significance for readers to deeply understand its artistic achievements.
First, Mao Zonggang likes to compare The Romance of the Three Kingdoms with historical works in his comments.
When expounding the narrative beauty of The Romance of Three Kingdoms, Mao Zonggang made a comparative analysis between The Romance of Three Kingdoms and Historical Records. He said:
The narrative beauty of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is similar to that of Historical Records, but its narrative difficulty is twice that of Historical Records. Historical Records is divided into books in different countries, so there are differences in biographies, families and biographies. Today's History of the Three Kingdoms is not like this. It is almost a collection of biographies, families and biographies. Short articles are easy to write, but long articles are difficult to do well. (reading the history of the three kingdoms) ①(P 14)
Mao Zonggang thinks that the "narrative beauty" of The Romance of Three Kingdoms is similar to that of Historical Records, but he points out that "the narrative difficulty of The Romance of Three Kingdoms is twice as difficult as that of Historical Records".
Why is this happening? Mao Zonggang thinks:
First, Historical Records states that "books are divided among different countries" and "biographies, family biographies and biographies are different", while The Romance of the Three Kingdoms "combines biographies, family biographies and biographies into one article". From this, we naturally think of Cai's evaluation of A Dream of Red Mansions: "Blind left, class, horse writing, realism, vivid;" The book of Qin Xue is empty and vivid. " "A surname thirty, Cao Xueqin only a ji. Taishigong's book, Gao Wendian's book and Cao Xueqin's book are all false words, far behind the ancients. However, a century's family can include hundreds of families, and the fake language village is like a morning bell and a drum. Although it is an official, it is better than the benefits of no famous teacher. In fact, Ma and Cao are both poor, worried about writing books, and have not been imprisoned, which is worse than cattle and horses. " (See A Dream of Red Mansions, edited by Yi Mi, Zhonghua Book Company, 1964, 1).
Second, Historical Records is short and easy to write, while Romance of the Three Kingdoms is long and difficult to do well. Mao Zonggang thus fully affirmed the "narrative beauty" of The Romance of Three Kingdoms. This comparative analysis is reminiscent of Jin Shengtan's comparison between Water Margin and Historical Records. Jin Shengtan thinks: "The methods of Water Margin all come from historical records, but they have many advantages over historical records. If Historical Records is wonderful, Water Margin already exists. " Jin Shengtan further pointed out that Water Margin was caused by literature, while Historical Records was caused by literature, and spoke highly of the former. (2) (p18) Although Mao Zonggang and Jin Shengtan have different starting points, they have their own views and gains in the comparative analysis of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Historical Records, but they both think that novels are difficult to become historical works in their creation.
In order to further illustrate the "narrative beauty" of The Romance of Three Kingdoms, Mao Zonggang also compared the scene description in The Romance of Three Kingdoms with historical records, and the analysis was quite detailed and convincing. The scene description of "Liu Xuande and the people crossing the river" in the 41st chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is particularly tragic. Liu Bei was chased by Cao Cao's army, which was a close call and extremely critical. However, Liu Bei, who is kind and generous and loves his people like a child, can't bear to abandon the people who fled with him and has to take them across the river. In this scene, the author of the novel not only depicts Liu Bei's loving and kind character, but also expresses his deep sympathy for the people's suffering. This scene has a strong artistic appeal and left a deep impression on readers. Mao Zonggang enjoyed this scene very much, so he pointed out in this general comment:
What is difficult in narrative is not difficult to gather, but difficult to disperse. For example, in an article by Dangyang and Nagsaka, Liu Bei fought with the general and his second wife, three east and four west, seven broken and eight continued, but the details could not be detailed and were omitted. At this point, the pen is almost at a loss; Today, the author narrates that Mi Fang was shot in the eye of Liu Bei, Jian Yong took a gun and Mi Zhu was tied in the eye of Zhao Yun, the second lady abandoned the car and walked in the mouth of Jian Yong, Jian Yong reported it in a German mouth, the whereabouts of Mrs. Gan were detailed by the sergeant, and the whereabouts of Mrs. Mi and Dou were detailed by the people. Calendars are uneven, not busy, not lacking. There is also a pen, writing autumn wind, writing autumn night, writing crying in the wilderness, decorating thousands of troops. I read the historical records and wrote about Xiang Yu, concubine, Chu Song, Jiulishan, Baqianzi, Han Xin's soldiers, people from all directions, and the throat of Wujiang River. I found the story of the article wonderful, and I couldn't help sighing when I saw the articles of Dangyang and Changban. (4 1) (P406)
The "Battle of Gaixia" in Historical Records of Xiang Yu is really wonderful, and it has been well known and relished by later readers. In the Song Dynasty, Zhu commented: "Generosity is fierce, and if you have a thousand years of injustice, you will be angry." In the Qing Dynasty, Wu Jiansi also said, "Great anger, thick land and high sky, no support. It is extremely difficult to write the sadness of the lost hero. " People think that in a place like "The Meeting Place", "the spirit of writing is to read through the back of the paper, listen quietly, and talk in Kan Kan. If there is a million troops hidden in history, it is moving. " (3) In the Qing Dynasty, Duke Liang of Zhou also pointed out: "Why do I have time to make songs and poems when my concubine dies and my horse escapes and I am fascinated by Kamikozawa?" Even if there are works, who will smell them and who will remember them? I call these words, whether or not, should be made up by Taishi Gongbi to be vivid. Li Wanfang even thinks this description is "eternal", which shows that people think highly of it. Mao Zonggang, on the other hand, thinks that "it is insightful to see the article in the reflection and lament the resurrection of Longmen". The tragic style and narrative characteristics of The Three Kingdoms are similar to those of The Battle of Gaixia.
Secondly, in his comments, Mao Zonggang also compared The Romance of the Three Kingdoms with Tang and Song poetry and Yuan Qu.
Liu Bei's farewell to Xu Shu in the 36th chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is touching and poetic. Because Cao Cao imprisoned Xu's mother, Liu Bei and Xu Shu had to part. After the two broke up, Liu Bei immediately stood at the edge of the forest and looked down for a long time. On a whim, he cut down all the trees in front of him. People don't know why. When asked why, Liu Bei replied, "Because of resistance, I hope Xu Yuan will look straight." . When commenting on The Romance of The Three Kingdoms, Mao Zonggang had a unique eye and saw the vivid and poetic description, so he wrote affectionately in this comment:
See Xuande and Xu Shu say goodbye later, Changting breaks up, heartbroken, looking forward to Fu, and stands in tears. The award-winning reading of dozens of farewell poems by Tang people made people cry. (36 times) (P354)
Most of the "farewell poems in Tang Dynasty" are sincere and touching. In fact, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms obviously uses the artistic conception of "Tang people's farewell poems" here. Send a poem to judge Wu: "Then he disappeared at the turn of the pass, leaving only his hoofprint." [4] (P353) Li Bai sent Meng Haoran a poem: "The lonely sail is far away from the sky, but the Yangtze River flows in the sky." [5] (P734) The poems of Cen Can and Li Bai seem to be different. They wrote farewell in the snow on the border and by the water in the mainland. In fact, the emotions expressed and the artistic techniques used are the same. They all stand and bow their heads to say goodbye to their friends, and do not directly express their feelings. Obviously, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms used the artistic conception of two poems when describing Liu Bei's gift to Xu Shu. Liu Bei's novel writing, in particular, not only stands and looks down, but suddenly wants to cut down all the trees that block the line of sight, which goes beyond the artistic conception of their poems and is a further expansion and sublimation of poetry. Therefore, when Mao Zonggang read this, he had the comment on writing that "it is better to read dozens of farewell poems in the Tang Dynasty, and some of them make people cry".
Moreover, in the comment on writing between the lines in the thirty-sixth chapter, Mao Zonggang further compared the description of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms with Jiang Yan's Biefu and Wang Shifu's The West Chamber. For example, in Liu Bei, he cried,' Go straight, Yuan! "What should I do," "A Pi said:
This sentence alone is worth Jiang's farewell poem. P359
"Liu Bei said,' Because it prevents me from looking straight at Xu Yuan. ""He said again:
"The West Chamber" says: "The green hills are separated, and the sparse forest is not beautiful." Liu Bei's hope for Yuan Zhi is similar. P360
This kind of comment on writing is rare. It not only reflects Mao Zonggang's artistic vision well, but also guides readers to deeply understand the special situations described in the novel, especially the delicate feelings of the characters in the novel.
This kind of person, there is an article written by Mao Zonggang on the "Thirty-seven Comments":
Liu Bei was anxious to see Kong Ming: when he heard the water mirror, he thought he was Kong Ming; when he saw Cui, Meng and Zhuge Jun, he thought he was Kong Ming. Just like people who watch the dawn at night, they think it's dawn when they see the light, dawn when they see the moonlight, and dawn when they see the starlight, just like people who watch the rain at night, they think it's rain when they listen to the wind, rain when they listen to the sound of springs, and rain when they listen to leaks. "The West Chamber" Qu Yun: "The wind moves the sound of bamboo, only the sound of gold; The moon is moving, and it is suspected to be a jade person. " Liu Bei's desire for virtue is like this. Kong can't get it, but he can't. (37 times) P362
Here, Mao Zonggang put "Liu Bei is anxious to look at Kong Ming" and "The Wind Drives the Bamboo Sound" in "The West Chamber", which only sounded like gold; The metaphor of "the moonlight changes into a shadow, and it is suspected that a jade man is coming" also reveals the beauty of the artistic conception described in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Thirdly, Mao Zonggang compared The Romance of the Three Kingdoms with other classical novels in his comments.
After all, novels are very different from historical works. Comparing historical works with novels is not a good explanation. Similarly, different genres of literary works are obviously different in art. Always comparing other genres of literary works with novels may not make the problem clear. So Mao Zonggang compared The Romance of Three Kingdoms with other classical novels.
Mao Zonggang compared the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with The Journey to the West when he was reading the History of the Three Kingdoms.
Reading the Three Kingdoms is better than reading Journey to the West. The Journey to the West invented the story of the demon, but he didn't tell it. If the History of the Three Kingdoms tells the story of the emperor, it is true and can be tested. Moreover, the benefits of The Journey to the West are already available in the three countries. Such as dumb spring and black spring, there is no difference between Zimu River and stillbirth spring. King Dos, King Mulu, and so on. What's the name of Niumo, Luli, Jinjiao and Yinjiao? Saving Guanyin in the South China Sea, such as Fu Bo's divination, makes no difference. Only one volume of Han Shu Chu Ci is worth a The Journey to the West. As for the former Zhenguo Temple and the latter Yuquan Mountain; Or visually quit the Buddhist monk's knife in the fire, or look up to the sky and talk, and drink with a stick. Is it necessary to recite the platform and the moon? This is a kind of meditation. (Reading the History of the Three Kingdoms) (P 14)
There is a fake Jiang Wei in this volume, and there is a fee before it. There are two Zhang Fake Fei, one Zhang Fei earns Yan Yan; Zhang Fei earned Zhang He. There is no room for two fake Jiang Wei. It was Kong Ming who trapped Jiang Wei. Try to imagine The Journey to the West, so the previous flying is a fake walker changed by Sun Monkey. After the fake Jiang Wei, Liu Er's macaque took the fake walker. The same vacation, or leave by yourself, or not leave by yourself and leave by others. However, the illusion of "The History of the Three Kingdoms" hardly reduces the cloud of "Journey to the West". (93 times) (P9 19)
Mao Zonggang compared The Romance with The Journey to the West and thought that "it is better to read Journey to the West than to read the Three Kingdoms" because "Journey to the West fabricated evil things, but it was not passed. If the History of the Three Kingdoms tells the story of the emperor, it can be tested. " It is further pointed out that "the benefits of Journey to the West are already in the Three Kingdoms" and "the illusion of the Three Kingdoms is almost as good as Journey to the West". We think The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Journey to the West are two literary works with different styles, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and generally speaking, it is impossible to compare them simply. Starting from personal likes and dislikes, Mao Zonggang is somewhat graceful in these two works, which is not entirely appropriate in itself. However, his comparative criticism of these two works can still make people realize their respective characteristics, and at least help readers understand the artistic style and characteristics of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms itself.
Mao Zonggang also compared the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with the Water Margin in Reading the Laws of the Three Kingdoms, pointing out that:
Reading Three Kingdoms is better than reading Water Margin. Although the truth of the characters in Water Margin is better than the illusion in Journey to the West, it is not difficult to create something out of nothing and rise and fall at will. Finally, if the History of the Three Kingdoms describes something, there is no room for change, but ingenuity is enough. And the talents of the three countries are outstanding, higher than those of Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng. My name is the book of gifted scholars, and the romance of the Three Kingdoms should be the first. (Reading the History of the Three Kingdoms) (P 14)
Mao Zonggang believes that "reading the Three Kingdoms is better than reading the Water Margin" for two reasons:
First, the truth of the characters in Water Margin is better than the illusion of westward journey, but it is not difficult to make it out of nothing and rise and fall at will. Finally, if the History of the Three Kingdoms narrates something, there is no room for change, but it is hard enough if it is clever enough. "
Second, "the talents of the three countries are excellent in literary talent, which is higher than that of Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng".
Therefore, Mao Zonggang said that The Romance of the Three Kingdoms should be the first one aimed at the book of gifted scholars.
On the first point, to be fair, what Mao Zonggang said is not brilliant, or even biased; But in the second point, Mao Zonggang did say that romance is higher than the Water Margin, because the characters such as Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng in the Water Margin are really pale and flat, not full enough, regardless of personal ability or personality characteristics.
Tan Fan's Comments on Ancient Novels (Shaanxi People's Publishing House) once pointed out: "Shi Mao's approval directly inherited the tradition of Jin Shengtan's comments on the Water Margin in terms of theoretical criticism, especially in the external form and brushwork of comments. However, due to the different evaluation objects, many new viewpoints have been put forward in theory. Such as the relationship between fiction and historical facts. As a historical novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has its own creative laws and characteristics different from other novels, that is, it is related to historical facts. It is generally believed that Mao Pi was inclined to the standard of "recording" and affirmed that the feature of his works was "telling the great events of the emperor in a true and testable way", but after careful analysis, this is not the case. First of all, in the comparison between The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Water Margin, Mao Piben really affirmed The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Reading Three Kingdoms is better than reading Water Margin. Although the authenticity of the characters in Water Margin is better than that in Westward Journey, it is not difficult to create something out of nothing and its ingenuity is not difficult. Finally, if the reflection does not describe certain things, it will be difficult to change things and be unique "(reading method). It can be seen that what Shi Mao affirmed is not the so-called "record" problem, but from the perspective of artistic ingenuity, that is, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a wonderful work written under the restriction of historical facts, so it is obviously difficult for him to create the Water Margin. ..... ""Secondly, on the one hand, Mao Piben affirmed that The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written as a "natural wonder", and at the same time, he often compared the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with an official who could have added it at will, accusing him of not writing a "peerless wonder" like The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. For example, the second general comment:' Three great stars, three clowns take the lead, three clowns die, and many clowns will be in trouble. I'm never practical, and I'm never straightforward. How can I be an official today? I could have added anything casually, but I am straightforward. "It is not difficult to see that the critics are actually not against fiction, but are mocking those authors who can't make fiction and produce peerless masterpieces." Third, in the specific corrections of the works, although the critics have also deleted some' fabrications made by later generations', they still praised those contents that are conducive to expressing the characters' character but obviously violate the historical facts, such as Guan Yunchang's going to the meeting alone, traveling thousands of miles alone, and explaining Huarong Road with righteous words. It can be seen that the reviewers' criteria for adding or deleting fictional content mainly lie in the artistic value. "
Similarly, in his comments, Mao Zonggang also compared The Romance of the Three Kingdoms with The History of the Three Kingdoms. He pointed out in the Law of Reading the History of the Three Kingdoms: "Reading the History of the Three Kingdoms is better than reading the History of the Three Kingdoms. Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu are the best articles, but Zuo Zhuan is based on classics, which are written paragraph by paragraph, and biographies are written paragraph by paragraph, which is irrelevant. " Guoyu is a book without classics, which can be associated with it. After all, Zhou dialect, Lu dialect, Jin dialect, Zheng dialect, Qi dialect, Chu dialect, Wu dialect and Yue dialect are divided into eight chapters, which are not connected with each other. Later generations combined Zuo Zhuan and Guoyu into a national biography. Because of the trouble of state affairs, its paragraphs cannot be connected. Today's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, from surrender to final reading, has no place to break its book, and it is above the national ambition. "As a result, Mao Zonggang pays more attention to novels with complete stories.