《西遊記》的目的是甚麼？
………………………………………………*李察
(問到底 No.7696 2010 0312 Friday)
到底《西遊記》的作者，為甚麼要寫這本書？他
的用意何在？這是很有趣的問題。有空拿出來咀嚼一
下，十分有趣。
《西遊記》的故事，事實上很久之前已經有眉目
了。李察猜想，這些故事，說書人已經在中華大地上，
說了幾百年。由唐朝到明朝，取西經的故事，已經輾
轉相傳了很久。
然後到了明朝，這一批故事，落到在一位天才手
中。這位天才，表面上是一位文學家。他精通中國文
學，駕馭文字的功力，大約古今上下，只有少數人及
得上。他不但駕馭文字，而且精通中國文化。他熟讀
歷史，還有各種佛教和道教的典籍。
其實，他遠遠不止於一位文學家。他還是一位思
想家，哲學家。基本上，他是跟寫作《紅樓夢》的作
者一樣的。雖然，《紅樓夢》的文筆比他更勝一籌，
但《紅樓夢》沒有他那樣豐富的想像力。思想的挑戰，
也有所不同。
《西遊記》可以說是一本中國人的通俗宗教故事
全書。這些宗教故事，完全是漫畫化的創作，根本與
嚴肅的教義無關。雖然到今時今日，還有人以為，書
中記載的道教故事，就是道教的教義。而《西遊記》
中的各種人物，都是需要膜拜的神靈。
其實書中的眾多神佛，只是借用來說故事的道
具。唐僧師徒，千辛萬苦到達西天，卻被看管經書的
阿儺和迦葉等神佛愚弄，還要索取利是錢，才肯把經
書給他：這是甚麼？這是開玩笑嗎？當然是開玩笑。
這是作者明明白白的在告訴讀者：請不要把這些故事
當真。
為甚麼不要當真呢？那麼，這本書，寫作意圖何
在？
作者是在寫作一部卡通劇集嗎？
探索作者的意圖，有一個最容易的方法。不要從
書中文句探索，而要從自己的印象探索。想一想：自
己心中的孫悟空、唐僧、豬八戒、沙僧：各有何種樣
的人格。特別是書中的唯一英雄孫悟空：他的好處何
在？作者歌頌的是甚麼？這樣，就肯定能夠直接看
見，作者從內心最根本處企圖表達的是甚麼。
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(本文貼出日期： 2010.3.12 香港時間：午夜)
(明天問題：)
(Leechardasks.blogspot.com)
<全文完>
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1 則留言:
Leechard,
I think the main theme of the 西遊記 is to discuss the quality necessary to become a good gentleman in China, not in a traditional Confucian or Buddhist view, but in the author view. 孫悟空 is, I can say, a hero in this story, who have already enjoyed different living situations, the King of the Jungle, the prisoners under the mountain, and have conquered death, the biggest fear of all man, through his outstanding talent and strong personalities. He understand better on nature of man living under then Chinese environment than all his friends and counterparts do, and can challenge these laid down principles, just like what you may have seen in other books, like the famous character, Harry potter, in Harry potter series. However, Harry potter is no 孫悟空. While Harry strives to perserve the best value of his society, love, peace, and justice, 孫悟空 strives to fight for these values in his own way, which is not readily accepted by majority of society. In 孫悟空 world, love, peace and justice are not fundamental values, but greedy, cowardice, cunning are. 孫悟空 determines to have none of these to prevail in his world, and starts his journey to fight for them back. Of course we see the result, though his society hardly changes after孫悟空 campaign, 孫悟空 nonetheless succeeds in strengthening one of the most important thing in his world, the religion power. 孫悟空 thinks, the stronger the religion power, the better the man moral code could be, and the better the world can be. I think it is just like the Methodist church story in England in 18th century which its founders share similar vision with孫悟空 in fostering English cultural values while England was to become the superpower in world at that time. However, with deep regret, I can say that孫悟空 fail, while Methodist church succeed. There is one crucial factor determining the success of the campaign, the power of the culture, which 孫悟空 ‘s one is already on downward trend, and Methodist one is still on upward trend.
Do you think my analysis is right? Write to leave your comment towards it.
Best wishes,
William
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