襲人之命名探論：《紅樓夢》人物形象與意涵的重省

本文對《紅樓夢》中襲人的人物形象與意涵進行重省，聚焦於其姓名的構成意義，擴及整個生命史與全部面貌加以檢視，從文本中寶玉的引據、回目的擬訂，以及脂硯齋的批語進一步界定，清楚可見襲人是以其姓氏「花」字為核心，結合了花卉文化資料庫中「花氣襲人」與「解語花」這兩個文學典故，「襲人」乃與「解語」相互定義，根源於「實可愛可敬可服之至」的品格，展現出「香」與「暖」的人格特質，而體現在種種勸諫中那分規引入正的苦心，故脂批稱「解語」為「大」。尤其是，透過襲人與黛玉在生活中的親近互動，加上兩人的同一天生日，小說家藉以建構出妻、妾關係的同類身分；更有甚者，其實在王夫人拔擢襲人為姨娘之前，早已先有賈母、寶玉、黛玉的連續表態，可謂眾望所歸。至於小說家以桃花為襲人的代表花，同樣是來自文化資料庫的構思，取資《詩經》與〈桃花源記〉的名篇，而綜合了「樂園」與「婚姻」的雙重意義，據此可以釐清常見的誤解。

關鍵字

襲人；解語花；桃花；林黛玉；息夫人

並列摘要

The paper discusses a key role in The Dream of the Red Chamber: Hua Xi-ren. I reconsider her figure-image and significance, focusing on the meaning of her denomination. The meaning, naturally, comprehends all her life and all her facets. After a detailed survey upon the reference of Jia Bao-yu in the text, the arrangement of the content of the novel and the criticism of Zhi-ian-zhai, the paper concludes that Hua Xi-ren (the name) incorporates two literary allusions: ＂the fragrance of flowers reaches/permeates/warms/ people＂ (hua qi xi ren, 花氣襲人) and ＂a flower/beauty that knows your words/understands＂ (jie yu hua, 解語花). The cross reference and mutual definition between the two literary allusions points to Hua Xi-ren's (the role) attitude with fragrance and warmth, which is based upon her ＂most lovely, most respectable and most convincing＂ virtue, and is shown through all her euphemistic but persistent remonstrations (chiefly with Jia Bao-yu) and all her painstaking and never-failing suggestions and advice. The paper also clears some popular misunderstandings around Xi-ren, including detailed discussions on the preset wife-concubine structure of Lin Dai-yu(wife) / Xi-ren (concubine) and on the representative flower of Xi-ren, the Peach Blossom.