When the commentators talk about the persecution of Liu Lanzhi by feudal ethics and patriarchal system, most of them are vague and have the feeling that the evidence is untrue. The Dictionary of Poetry Appreciation in the Han, Wei and Six Dynasties is a little more specific: "The Book of Rites? Life's core monuments said:' A woman has seven things to do: go against her parents, go childless, go whoring, go jealous, go ill, talk too much and steal.' Jiao Mu persecuted Liu Lanzhi with the first article. The Book of Rites also stipulates:' A son is very suitable for his wife, and his parents are unhappy and go out.' Jiao Mu suppressed Jiao Zhongqing with filial piety. "I think this statement is arbitrary. We don't know how high Jiao Mu's cultural accomplishment was at that time, and we can't see how she cited the provisions of the Book of Rites to persecute Liu Lanzhi and Jiao Zhongqing in her poems. Moreover, we all know: "The Book of Rites is one of the Confucian classics" Three Rites ". In the Western Han Dynasty, the Rite of Rites was still advocated, and in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Rite of Rites was also advocated. " The story of Peacock Flying Southeast took place at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was only after the Three Kingdoms that the academic circles began to talk about the Book of Rites. Therefore, the Book of Rites could not be the moral code of the Eastern Han Dynasty, nor could it be the killer and the magic spell of ethics at that time.
It must be pointed out that critics seem to ignore a lot of contents in Peacock Flying Southeast that violate the provisions of the Book of Rites.
For example, "Parents save, but friends are not allowed to die." Liu Lanzhi and Jiao Zhongqing agreed to die, but the author was sympathetic and appreciative of their double suicide.
For example, "My son and daughter are not filial and respectful, so don't complain, but teach them; If you can't teach, then be angry; Don't be angry, let the woman out, but don't show courtesy. " Liu Lanzhi's "no deviation in women's behavior" and "obedience to men's education" are not considered unfilial and disrespectful. Jiao Mu doesn't have to be angry and complain even if she thinks she is unfilial. She should be taught, and if she doesn't listen, she should be blamed, and if she doesn't repent after being blamed, her son should be divorced. And coke mother always look not pleasing to the eye to Liu Lanzhi, deliberately find fault, itself is a great violation of ethical codes.
For example, "My son and daughter have hard work, and although they love it very much, they would rather give it up." This means that even if the in-laws love their daughter-in-law very much, they have to let her do it, but they should persuade her to have more rest from time to time. Liu Lanzhi said, "The cock crows into the weaving, and it can't stop every night. It's too late for adults to break five horses in three days.". Jiao Mu not only didn't tell her to have a rest, but she was too slow to knit, which seriously violated the ethical code.
For example, "A woman who follows people is also a father and brother when she is young, a husband when she marries, and a son when her husband dies." Although Jiao Fu didn't appear, although there were cases of "male basking" at the same time, most people thought it was a compound word with partial meaning, and its meaning pointed to "basking": Jiao Mu. Judging from "the son is invisible today, leaving the mother behind", Jiao's mother should be said to be a widow. As we all know, the three cardinal guides, the five permanents and the four virtues are the core contents of feudal ethics, patriarchal system and patriarchal clan system. If Jiao Mu's husband is still alive, then it's not her turn to give orders and boss around at home. If Jiao's husband has passed away, then she should listen to Jiao Zhongqing. Liu Lanzhi seems to have lost his father, but it is Mr. Liu, not Liu's mother, who gives orders and is uncompromising. We can assume that if Jiao Zhongqing, like Mr. Liu, is in charge at home, Liu Lanzhi will not be deported; If Liu, who understands and sympathizes with her daughter, is the master like Jiao, Liu Lanzhi will not be forced to remarry. It can be seen from here that the so-called feudal ethics and ethics are not strictly implemented in Jiao and Liu. Liu Lanzhi's tragedy can even be said to be caused by the failure to implement the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues".
To sum up, it can be seen that: 1. From the works themselves, Jiao Mu and Liu Xiong have done harm to Liu Lanzhi in collusion with feudal ethics, but they have done more harm to Liu Lanzhi in serious violation of feudal ethics. We can't say that Jiao Mu and Liu Xiong are accomplices of feudal ethics, just as we can't say that Jiao Mu is a fighter against feudal ethics. Liu Lanzhi's fate might be better if he acted strictly according to the doctrine of the Book of Rites. Liu Lanzhi's tragedy is by no means caused by the persecution of the so-called feudal ethics and patriarchal system. Second, from the social environment inside and outside the work, the feudal ethics with the Book of Rites as the core content was far from becoming the basic values of the public (including the author) at that time, and the ethical relationship in the family was not bound by the Confucian doctrine. There was no feudal patriarchal system and feudal patriarchal system that specifically stifled happy marriage and happy love. Therefore, Liu Lanzhi's death cannot be blamed on the persecution of feudal ethics and patriarchal system.
We think that Liu Lanzhi's death is related to her own personality.
Liu Lanzhi is confident and conceited about his cleverness and ability. "Thirteen can weave, ... sixteen recite poems", and the self-evaluation is not bad. At the same time, she is very sensitive. She knows very well that her mother-in-law is dissatisfied with her and deliberately finds fault with her. "The cock crows into the machine, and it can't rest every night. It's too late to break five horses in three days, my Lord, but it's too late to weave. It's hard for your wife! " Stubborn, she can't bear it. She is not circuitous or tactful. She goes straight and takes the initiative to show her position: "I can't be driven, and if I leave nothing to do, I can go home in time." His self-esteem and rebellious character are very distinct.
Liu Lanzhi's self-esteem and rebellion are prominently reflected in her "strict makeup" before leaving Jiao Zhongqing. "When the cock crows outside, the bride wears strict makeup. Embroidering my skirt, everything is four or five. My feet are tiptoeing and my head is shining. If the waist is flowing, what about the bright moon? . Refers to the root of onion, and the mouth contains Dani. Fine steps, exquisite and unparalleled. " These words highlight Liu Lanzhi's self-esteem. Traditionally, women have been taken home, and most of them are haggard, disheveled, in tears, or trying to die. However, Liu Lanzhi felt that it was a waste of his own image and a damage to his self-dignity. Although she has great sadness, she is still radiant and charming. This is in itself a demonstration and protest against Jiao Mu: Didn't you say that Qin Luofu, the owner, was "pitiful" and "graceful and gorgeous"? Is she as beautiful as a young woman? Don't you want me to sweep the house out in a cowardly way? I am determined to be brighter and more proud than when I was a bride. This is clearly a kind of protest and demonstration. Sure enough, when she "went to class to enlighten her mother", "her mother was angry."
mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, one is grumpy, narrow-minded, intolerant and likes to find fault; A sensitive self-esteem, self-confidence, stubbornness, tit-for-tat, can't be gentle and tactful, and it is very difficult to live in a family for a long time.
Lan Zhi's self-esteem and rebellion are also deeply reflected in his conversation with his elder brother. "Brother heard of it, but he was upset. He said to Mei,' Why don't you measure it? Marry a government official first, and then marry a husband. If you are as good as heaven and earth, you will be honored. If you don't marry Yi Langti, will you want He Yun?' ""it wants He Yun "-what are you going to do in the future? The subtext here is very rich: are you going to be single for a long time in the future? Do you plan to stay at your parents' home for a long time? Are you going to send food under your sister-in-law for a long time in the future? Will there be a better family in the future than now? Can Jiao Zhongqing really take you back in the future? Wait a minute. Upon hearing this, "Lan Zhi looked up and answered". The "looking up" here is very meaningful. Her self-esteem, strength, calmness, disobedience and humility are very full and moving. Her answers are ironic (truth is like brother's words), bright and smooth and dark (punishment is suitable for brother's intention, so you have to be self-appointed), and there is a contradiction between yang and yin (although it is necessary with the government officials, the canal will never have a chance); And the seemingly happy promise of "make peace with each other, and you can get married" has actually set the most intense rebellious heart: if I am in a hurry, I will only die, and then your dream of being a younger sister, a noble brother and a high climber will also be lost. If Mr.Liu had not been so bossy and snobbish, if Liu Lanzhi had not been so trustworthy and self-respecting, and had not resisted and rebelled, Liu Lanzhi's suicide tragedy would not have been staged at all.
In getting along with Zhong Qing, Lan Zhi shows more self-esteem, tenderness and frank Ren Zhen. She has tenderness for Zhong Qing. My mother-in-law's sober understanding and unyielding personality made her resolutely propose to end her marriage with Zhong Qing. At this time, children have less tenderness and more spontaneous Ren Zhen. Liu Lanzhi is loyal to and cherishes love, but he doesn't wronged himself for love. There are many elements of later personality liberation and marital autonomy here. In contrast, Zhong Qing is more affectionate. His "if you send this woman today, you will never get it again" is beyond the reach of ordinary men. Zhong Qing and Lan Zhi both showed their children's tenderness and fantasy about the future when they said goodbye. However, Lan Zhi was confronted with his brother who was "sexually violent". His forced marriage simply ignored faithful love and be immersed in love, and ruthlessly shattered their illusions. When Lan Zhi and Zhong Qing met for the last time, she said, "What can you expect from me?" Seemingly unfeeling, it is actually the despair of love and marriage and the awakening after despair, as well as the full maintenance of self-dignity. She wondered whether Zhong Qing, who was weak by nature, gave in, whether Zhong Qing and Qin Luofu, the owner, were in love, and what Zhong Qing's attitude towards the marriage change was. Therefore, she will use seemingly rude words to test Zhong Qing. She should have thought that this might hurt Zhong Qing, but the spontaneous Ren Zhen made her a little hasty.
If Zhong Qing is smiling, angry and relieved at this time, it is Lan Zhi's greatest sorrow. However, what Lan Zhi heard was vitriolic irony and sarcasm, a true confession of the same heavy sentiment and suicide, and the heroic pride of resolutely dying: "He Qing has to move high! The rock is square and thick, and it can die for thousands of years. When Pu Wei sews it for a while, it will be overnight. Qing won the day, and I went to the grave alone! " In the history of literature, many women died for love, while few men died for love, so Jiao Zhongqing is very valuable.
Lan Zhi's "What's the point?" seems to be angry, but in fact she heard what she most wanted to hear. This proves how much Zhong Qing loves himself. "Let's meet in the grave, don't go against today's words", which is simply and succinctly said, without hesitation. It is still the natural expression of Liu Lanzhi's frankness, Ren Zhen, crispness and self-esteem. A self-respecting person will strive to pursue his own dignity when he is alive. If he is violated, he will choose fierce resistance. When he feels that his self-esteem cannot be maintained when he is alive, he will choose to die, which is another form of dignity realization. Petofi's poem "Life is precious, but love is more expensive. If you are free, you can throw both of them away", which is an amazing coincidence with Liu Lanzhi's spiritual bearing. Therefore, we believe that Liu Lanzhi's choice of suicide is mainly determined by her own personality, although there are factors such as her mother-in-law and her brother. Her self-esteem is the core of her personality, and rebellion is the external manifestation of self-esteem.
Grasping the social atmosphere and ideological pulse at that time is very useful for understanding Liu Lanzhi's character and its characteristics of the times. In the history of China's poetry, the artistic image of Liu Lanzhi, who was willing to die for temperament and self-esteem, was born, which is an epoch-making event in the history of Chinese literature, even in the history of thought and culture, and this is where this work has great artistic and ideological value. However, it is difficult to grasp its value and influence in "human awakening" and "literary consciousness" by studying this work unilaterally by means of class analysis and political analysis.
Cao Qingfu, a Chinese teacher and researcher, now lives in Shenzhen, Guangdong. This article is edited by Lao Meng