Cultural Journey is Yu's first collection of essays. The anthology mainly includes two parts: one is an essay on history and culture, and the other is an essay on discussing culture; The other part is reminiscence prose.
There are 37 articles in the book. They are Taoist Pagoda, Mogao Grottoes, Yangguan Snow, Shayuan Hidden Spring, Liu Hou Temple, Bailian Cave, Dujiangyan, Dongting Corner, Lushan Mountain, Guichi Nuo, Qingyunpu Scenic Resort Scenic Area, White Hair Suzhou, Jiangnan Town, Lonely Tianzhu Mountain and Rainy Day. Rain of poetry, sacrifice of pen and ink, worrying about books, wintersweet wintersweet, living in Longhua, thirty years of weight, wandering, China complex, it is really quiet here.
Taoist pagoda
There is a river outside the Mogao Grottoes. There is a clearing on the other side of the river, and several stupas are built high and low. The tower is round and looks like a gourd. It is painted white. Judging from the collapse of several towers, a wooden stake stands in the center of the tower, surrounded by yellow mud, and the base is made of blue bricks. Monks and abbots in Mogao Grottoes have never been rich, which can also be proved from here. As the sun sets and the north wind blows, this dilapidated tower group is even more desolate. There is a tower, which is well preserved because it was built recently. There is an inscription on the tower. I was suddenly surprised when I saw it. Its owner turned out to be the king! It is recorded in history that he was a sinner in Dunhuang Grottoes.
Mogao Grottoes
Opposite the Mogao grottoes is a three-dimensional mountain. "Shan Hai Jing" records "chasing three seedlings in three dangers". It can be seen that it is the early barrier of Chinese civilization, and it is too early to draw a clear line with myth. How to fight that battle is hard to imagine now, but the mighty army of the Central Plains should have been here. At that time, the whole earth was sparsely populated, and the sound of hooves seemed empty and loud. It is beyond the reach of human resources to make such a mountain with three dangers as the reflection wall of Mogao Grottoes, and we can only rely on the arrangement of nature. In 366 AD, a monk came here. His name is Lezun. He is abstinent, does not like to talk, and walks around the fields with a handful of hands. It's already night here, and he wants to find a place to live. Looking around at the summit, I suddenly saw a strange sight: three dangerous mountains were glittering and towering like a thousand buddhas dancing. Is it the sunset glow? No, the sunset glow is in the west, corresponding to the golden light of Sanwei Mountain. There are many explanations for the mystery of three dangerous golden lights, and I don't want to discuss it here. Anyway, the monk Le Zun at that time was very excited for a moment. He stood stupefied, with golden light burning in front of him and colorful sunset clouds behind him. His whole body was red, and Zhang Xi in his hand became crystal clear. He stood stupefied, there was no sound between heaven and earth, only the overflow of light and the shadow of color. He realized something, put Zhang Xi on the ground and knelt down solemnly. Qingyin vowed to be widely given alms from now on, and built a grotto here to make it a real holy place. After the monk made his wish, the flames on both sides were black, and the twilight pressed on the vast sand plain. Soon, the first grotto of Lezun monk was started. At the time of alms, he widely publicized his adventures, and believers from far and near came to the scenic spot to worship. With the increase of age, new caves were excavated. From princes to civilians, they built their own houses or set up joint ventures, and all their beliefs and prayers were chiseled into this steep slope. Since then, the history of this mountain can not be separated from the tinkling of craftsmen's axes.
Appreciation of Comparative Art in Cultural Journey
As a cultural scholar and prose writer, Mr. Yu combines the profundity of scholars with the brilliance of writers, and makes his feelings wander in the "humanistic landscape" with his unique opinions, so that his philosophical understanding is full of wisdom. Therefore, his "cultural journey" also constitutes a unique landscape of China's contemporary literature. Opening a book is a rich and fragrant cultural atmosphere. The writer stands at the height of the times, perceives the world with a critical eye and knows human beings themselves, thus making his works show extraordinary charm. The application of contrast art can't help but play a powerful role in adding fuel to the flames and setting off the rendering. First of all, the use of contrast shows the writer's witty cultural insight. Prose is a lyric art, which has to do with the author's subjective consciousness. It not only expresses the objective world, but also pays attention to the author's self-emotion and subjective spiritual world. Every prose work is the publicity of the author's personality, and it is the truest and most concrete display of knowledge, spirit and sentiment. In Cultural Journey, we see not only the writer's footprints all over the motherland, but more importantly, we feel the revelation of Mr. Yu's subjective spirit and his cultural perception of superman in the motherland, which often inspires and shocks people and makes readers have to admire the writer's unique views. Take the first part of Dujiangyan as an example. In this part, the author makes a beautiful comparison between the Great Wall and Dujiangyan. Before the comparison, Yu is unique. He didn't belittle the Great Wall, but held it to the supreme position. "This miserable country has built a Wan Li barrier between barren hills and deserts by manpower." The Great Wall can no longer be defined by geography. It not only belongs to China, but also is a symbol of world civilization. It is said that the Great Wall "left a pride of human willpower for the planet we live in", and the ancient Great Wall is also a witness of history. All the humiliation, suffering, achievements and glory of the Chinese nation are vividly in my mind. Without the Great Wall, where can we find such a fair and upright witness? It is difficult to praise before comparing, but only in this way can we show the writer's smart talent, unique perception and extraordinary skill. Seeing him unhurriedly give a "but" leads to the following extraordinary contrast. First of all, compare the time. "A great project had been completed in Sichuan Plain decades before Qin Shihuang ordered the construction of the Great Wall", which echoed the following article "After record checking, the Great Wall is still its successor". It is vividly confirmed that Dujiangyan is in front of the Great Wall. Secondly, from the perspective of scale comparison. "The Great Wall is magnificent", Dujiangyan "benefits the Millennium", "The Great Wall occupies a vast space" and Dujiangyan "occupies a long time". The two are on a par. Third, contrast from the social function. The Great Wall has been abandoned for a long time, and Dujiangyan "is still delivering clean water to countless people", making "Sichuan Plain, which is changeable in drought and flood, a land of abundance." And "calmly" provide shelter and support for our nation that has suffered a major disaster. Only in this way can "Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei be great talents", "Li Bai and Du Fu have a brilliant career in traveling in Sichuan" and "China in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression has a relatively stable rear area". Dujiangyan is actually "permanently irrigating the Chinese nation". Is Dujiangyan, which has made great contributions and is immortal, comparable to the Great Wall? Finally, compare the meaning and value. Dujiangyan is a "fine infiltration and gradual extension" civilization and a "smart life". It is "humble in a corner", "never shows off and asks for nothing in return", and has the mind of a country mother. The Great Wall, which is half showing off and half timid, puts on a "stiff sculpture" waiting for people to repair it. Dujiangyan, a living and flowing spirit that only knows dedication and does not know what to ask for, the Great Wall, can it be compared? The Great Wall and Dujiangyan are two famous projects in China, which have no popularity and aura. However, the writer's excellent cultural perception and repeated comparisons make Dujiangyan show its ancient and young heroic and romantic nature. In fact, every exquisite essay in Cultural Journey has such feelings, such as the demoted official culture in Dongting Lake, the sacred and mysterious details in Mogao Grottoes, the fascinating Nuo sacrifices and Nuo operas in Guizhou, and so on. Even the common rain at night shows great meaning and infinite charm in the writer's pen. (See "Poetic Night Rain on a Cultural Journey") The use of two contrast techniques shows the writer's distinct emotional experience. When reading prose, readers can not only see the writer's cultural feelings, but also see the writer's emotional experience through his works. This contrast is not uncommon in the book. Comparing the bibliophile Fan Qin and his nephew Fan Dache with the calligrapher Feng Fang, we can see that we sincerely admire and marvel at Fan Qin. "Dream of the West Lake" has a beautiful contrast around the theme of life: "Su Dongpo beautified poems and long dikes, Lin Hejing pinned beauty on plum blossoms and white cranes, and Su Xiaoxiao always attached beauty to his own life", and the writer's sincere praise for the three ancients flowed here. In China Complex, the descriptions of the descendants of the Chinese people who can be named and those who can't are full of sincere love and respect from the writer. Through comparison, Taoist Temple presents readers with more emotional experiences, which should be a sigh for the history of national humiliation and a deep sorrow for the destruction of the splendid culture of the motherland. Let's look back at the early morning of May 26th, 1900. When Wang, the Taoist priest in charge of the Mogao Grottoes, got up early to clean up the accumulated sand, he suddenly found a hole full of treasures. How did officials in China treat these rare treasures at that time? "Taoist king picked up a few scrolls and gave them to the county magistrate, by the way. This thing is wonderful. The county magistrate weighed it a little. Ye, a scholar of Gansu Xuetai and epigraphy, suggested that Fan Tai transport the cultural relics to the provincial capital for safekeeping, but the freight was not low and the bureaucrats hesitated. "When" tea "was in the living room of China officials," scholars, sinologists, archaeologists and adventurers from Europe and America came to Dunhuang not far from Wan Li and camped out in the wind. They are willing to sell all their property to pay for smuggling one or two cultural relics back. They are willing to endure hardships, are willing to risk being buried in the desert, and even prepare to be beaten and killed, and come to this newly opened cave. " Smart foreigners are eager to find these precious treasures, but China officials completely ignore them and fail to form a basic protection net. So, "one box, another box. One cart, the other cart, all packed and tied. Hey, a motorcade is leaving. " "... to London, Paris, Petersburg, Tokyo. "What is even more hateful is the damn" Wang Daochang nodded frequently, bowed deeply and sent him a ride. " Strong contrast has produced a shocking artistic power. Not only readers, but also China people with a little conscience will be angry. Mr. Yu wrote here, of course, with indignation and anger. He was saddened and filled with indignation: "China is a big country, but it can't compare with a few volumes of scriptures." But the fact has happened, and the screenwriter has no choice but to lament: "I hate it." "I hate it", the three words stood alone and penetrated the back of the paper. What do writers hate? I hate Taoist Wang for giving away treasures for a few silver dollars, China officials for their short-sightedness, foreign adventurers for plundering China's treasures cheaply, and they were not born hundreds of years earlier ... Although the content that writers hate is not written directly, readers can see clearly the writer's distinct personal love and hate. This is the effect of contrast art.
Reflections on "Cultural Journey"
China's culture is extensive and profound, and there are places worth thinking about everywhere. If China's culture is the Pacific Ocean, Yu is a navigator, and I can only be regarded as his little follower. Along the way, I have led me all over the country, enjoying the beautiful scenery of nature and thinking about the development of China culture. Unlike Chen Jingrun, his exploration journey is flying, from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, and from Jiangnan to further places. At the first stop, we came to Tuscany Tower. Blue bricks and yellow mud, this is no more common; After careful exploration, I realized that it has great mystery, but it is also a shame. Daota was originally an ordinary Buddhist place, but when the Taoist king dug a long cave, it became unusual. Taoist Wang has also become a "princess" favored by dignitaries. Taoist Wang's ancient cultural relics, no, China's ancient cultural relics were used in the flattering officialdom, and their innocence was gradually discredited. To make matters worse, foreign friends were impolite, Wang Daoshi giggled, and China ancient cultural relics were safely transported out of the country by car, and Wang Daoshi greeted foreign friends. Alas! Heartbroken! After such an embarrassing journey, I thought more and gained more. We will go to the Three Gorges by boat and leave the Taoist Temple Tower to find Li Bai and Liu Bei. Perhaps it is for these two main streams that the Three Gorges are fighting day and night. Now, with the gradual completion of the Three Gorges Dam project, the people of China have gradually met their own energy needs, all thanks to the Three Gorges. In any case, the Three Gorges contains infinite energy and wisdom. Traveling is not too hard, just a little ups and downs in my mind. The pursuit and exploration of culture is endless, because life is also an endless boundary. As the wise man said, "it doesn't matter how much money you have, what matters is how much money you spend." Similarly, it doesn't matter how smart your mind is, what matters is how many meaningful ideas you have. There are more good ideas, and people will have money. Whether in the Spring and Autumn Period or in sadness and joy, we should finally close our eyes and return to historical indifference and rational severity.