《紅樓夢》之藝術創作及其創作環境探析

The Creative Writings & Related Environment of A Dream of Red Mansions

陳瑞秀(Zouei-Sieou Chen)

《東方人文學誌》 7卷4期 (2008/12) Pp. 225-246

https://doi.org/10.6389/OH.200812.0225

摘要

《紅樓夢》作者曹雪芹既傳承又「創新」了三個富有寓言意味的神話，以之架構全書三大悲劇情節主線。本文試圖透過下列章節討論「創作」與「創作環境」兩者間之對應關係：首明正確看待作者之神話「創作」為藝術形式之借用而非宗教信奉（迷信）之重要。次敘三大「神話」之象徵意涵：「頑石無材補天，幻形入世，造歷幻緣」：象徵賈寶玉叛逆的性格悲劇。「絳珠仙子以淚償灌」：象徵寶玉∕黛玉∕寶釵糾纏不清的戀愛∕婚姻悲劇。「寶玉夢入太虛幻境」：象徵以賈府為首的賈史王薛四大家族終將衰亡的命運悲劇。創作環境歸納之有四：家庭的環境－曹氏家族三代四人，終康熙之朝歷任江寧織造之職，皇帝南巡四次接駕，此為曹家大起大落直接因素。政治的環境－滿清初掌天下，四方不寧，為制裁反清復明思潮及後雍正繼位內鬥，文字大獄時興，臣民稍－不慎輒遭滅族慘禍！雪芹父輩亦罹抄家、流放等等奇災！難言之隱，亦唯借助於神話表述－途。社會環境－因「雍正奪嫡」疑雲，大舉整肅異己，人人自危，因此「士之志節者，皆逃之釋氏」以避禍！禪理通詩理，雪芹由禪理而悟出「神話」之創新。美學之因素－亦唯有幽渺難尋、因而令人遺情想像顧望懷愁之神話寓言，方足以涵攝《紅樓夢》瑰奇之藝術構思。結論：引述「作者自敘」與數首關鍵性詩詞，以深刻闡明「不可名言之理，不可施見之事，不可逕達之情」亦唯有借助於美麗神話，方足以明其旨趣，騁其情懷！由以上論述，略可窺見「創作」與「環境」相對應之關係。藝術即為克服困難朝聖之旅，而其中「創作環境」之於作者與其作品之影響，大矣！

關鍵字

神話隱喻 ； 創作環境 ； 曹寅 ； 江寧織造 ； 康熙 ； 雍正 ； 文字獄 ； 抄家

並列摘要

Cao Xue-qin, author of A Dream of Red Mansions, created 3 mythical allegories to structure major plots of the novel. This paper investigates the creative writings & the related environment of Cao Xue-qin in the following parts: A) The application of these 3 mythical allegories is an indication of [arts for arts' sake and non superstitious]. B) Implication of the 3 allegories-the 1st allegory symbolizes the characteristic tragedy of Jia Bao-yu, the leading hero of the novel. The 2nd allegory symbolizes Bao-yu / Dai-yu / Bao-chai love & marriage tragedy. The 3rd allegory symbolizes that the 4 most notable families in the novel would all meet with their doom as predestined. C) Discussion of Cao Xue-qin's creative writings and the related environments: (1) Family environments-Cao's family had been closely connected with The Emperor Kang-Xi that was the key point of Cao's family's up & down! (2) Political environment-The Emperor Yong-Zheng succeeded the throne and purged Cao's family / clan! Meanwhile the literary inquisition reached its peak at the time! (3)Social trend environment-that was the time the practice of ”Zen” prevailed which inspired Cao Xue-qin to his creative writing of the 3 allegories……. D) Conclusion-Because of the very peculiar writing environment that Cao Xue-qin had faced that prompted him to find the other way out-by creating 3 mythical allegories to structure major plots of this family history-related novel A Dream of Red Mansions. What the writing environment could do to a writer and his work is unfathomable!

並列關鍵字

allegorical implication ； the writing environment ； Cao Yin ； Textile Commissioner in Jiangning ； Kang-Xi ； Yong-Zheng ； literary inquisition ； Confiscation of estates