The prototype of the image of Hehe Erxian

1. 1 the image of Buddhist monks in the late Tang Dynasty

The classic description is "like a poor child, looking listless" and "Hanshan unfolds and picks up a broom".

The image of China's Hanshan theme can be traced back to the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. According to the available data, there was a portrait of Hanshan in the Tang Dynasty when the legend of Hanshan began to spread. At that time, Lu Qiuyin described this image as "like a poor child with a haggard face ... birch bark as the crown, cloth and fur as the crown, clogs on the ground" and so on, showing a kind of wildness and boldness.

Guan Xiu, a famous poet in the late Tang Dynasty, wrote the earliest Picture of Picking up Cold. Although it remains to be verified, from the picture, both of them are dressed in robes and have strange faces, sitting in Panasonic, one reading aloud with a roll and the other with a broom beside them, which is the classic image of "Hanshan unrolls the roll and picks up the broom".

The images of monks in Hanshan Zen poems at the end of Tang Dynasty basically laid the basic embryonic form of Hanshan painting in Song, Yuan and even Ming Dynasties, and also laid the foundation for the harmonious symbolic image of the two immortals in the future.

Although the images of poets and monks in Hanshan's early paintings and the artistic conception in Zen paintings are far from the images of "Harmony and Two Immortals" in Ming and Qing Dynasties, their widespread spread laid the groundwork for later identifying "Harmony and Two Immortals" as a symbolic image. This is the basis of its image communication.

1.2 The image picked up by Hanshan is widely spread.

The images picked up by Hanshan are widely circulated because of the spread of Hanshan poems. Moreover, the thought of Hanshan poetry is the decisive factor for the sublimation of the symbolic image of Hehe Erxian in the future.

Throughout the development of China's symbolic ornamentation, "Harmony with Two Immortals" is one of the symbolic images with the most cultural connotation and development potential.

The image picked up by Hanshan is the concentrated embodiment of Hanshanzi's poetic thought. Hanshan and his poems (especially Hanshan) are both refined and Zen, and they are completely lost for worldly fame and fortune. He not only has an open mind wandering in nature, but also often has incisive sentences to warn Buddhists, so he is highly respected by future generations. Even now, self-cultivation is meaningful. Become the essence of "harmonious culture". The famous "Cold Mountain Ask" shows a dialogue between the two of them, which shows their attitude:

Hanshan asked me before: What should I do if the world slanders me, deceives me, humiliates me, laughs at me, despises me, belittles me, hates me and deceives me?

Pick up the cloud: just put up with him, let him, let him, avoid him, put up with him, respect him, ignore him, stay a few years and see him. ①

In this dialogue, Master Hanshan asked very well, and Master Picard also gave a wonderful answer. In fact, the open-minded, detached, generous and free-spirited answers I picked up are still meaningful to people today.

With the help of cold paintings, Hanshan poems are not only widely circulated among monks, but also have a great influence on other literati. Both Wang Anshi and Zhu like Hanshan poems very much. On the one hand, due to the increasing influence of China scholars and scholars who converted to Buddhism, especially Zen, they are all related to Zen or Zen monks. This Mr. Gao Yuefu has a detailed exposition in "A Comment on the Stupid Old Man and Hanshan Poetry": "Hanshanzi's poetry is a new method in poetry circles, and it is not interesting to say that it is a shortcut. It is difficult for a person who knows Zen without talent to understand it, and it is also difficult to understand Zen in his poems. The scene of his poems is that he realizes his superficiality, and the scene he writes is that he inspires liberation in compassion. Although writing is sometimes gorgeous, it is essentially quiet and holy. When we say that he is a poem, it is actually a tribute to the second part of Sanzang ... He is not in Zen, but he has a sleek front, smiling at the flowers of Ananda and Ye Jia, and shining in the moonlight mirror of Cao Dong. " (2) The above discussion can be said to have something to say.

Another important reason why Hanshan's poems can have such a great impact on society is the rendering and deification of Buddhism and Taoism. The description in The Legend of Immortals makes people feel that Hanshan is no longer a poet on earth, but a god-like poet, poet and bodhisattva, and even Shi Fo. For the above reasons, many poets, scholars and ordinary literati, whether imitating, reconciling or giving songs, are proud to be good at "Hanshan" and "HuiHanshan" poems. The images picked up by Hanshan are also spread because of the popularity of Hanshan poems, which in a sense is also the basis for the widespread spread of the image of "Harmony and Two Immortals" in the future.

2 "Harmonious two immortals" symbolic image changes

Hanshan's painting began to move towards folklore, and its realistic image changed from "looking like a poor child with a shriveled appearance" to a festive and auspicious atmosphere. The description in Wang Xing's Cold Mountain Map is empirical.

For example, Luo Pin, a great painter, one of the Eight Eccentrics in Yangzhou, painted a painting "Picked Up in Cold Mountain".

Luo hired a freehand brushwork technique to describe two characters, smiling at each other with their mouths open, bared their breasts and frankly met each other. The brushwork of clothing patterns is bold and unrestrained, without meticulous carving, which is very consistent with the personality of the characters in the painting. The original is now in the Nelson-Aikins Art Museum in the United States, and its stone carvings are embedded in the back wall of the Daxiong Hall of Hanshan Temple in Suzhou. The Hanshan Mountain in this picture has almost become the iconic image of Hanshan Temple, and it is also the typical image of "He Erxian" today.

This change is mainly because after entering the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the vitality of Zen gradually declined, and its influence on Hanshan's painting image was no longer obvious. At this time, with the change of social thoughts and the evolution of Hanshan legend, the shape of Hanshan was influenced by Taoist fairy images and folklore, and it appeared shirtless and very kind, unlike ordinary monks who were unsmiling. This plays a connecting role in the image of "Hehe Erxian", which is completely symbolic.

3. The establishment of the symbolic image of Hehe Erxian

3. 1 Establishment of mature image in Ming and Qing Dynasties

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were the decisive period of "Harmony with Two Immortals" as a symbolic image. It is the mature period of the symbolic image of "harmonious two immortals".

In the history of China, the Ming and Qing Dynasties were the heyday of symbolic graphics. All kinds of folk decorative patterns and graphic symbols of China's calligraphy in past dynasties were conventionally regarded as symbols or symbols with beautiful meanings, so the pictures must be intentional and the meanings must be auspicious. Auspicious symbol graphics almost become the only content of decoration. Moreover, the forms of patterns are more colorful, and the auspicious symbol patterns are more mature and perfect by using pattern techniques. The spread of auspicious pictures, auspicious customs and auspicious words is far-reaching, and its influence on social culture is gradually deepening.

For example, peony butterfly symbolizes wealth and invincibility, bamboo-browed bird symbolizes Qi Mei's old age, Chun Yan peach symbolizes Changchun comparison, hydrangea golden pheasant symbolizes a bright future, and okra symbolizes the splendor of Yutang.

Of course, "Hehe Erxian" was also widely circulated in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a fuller form and more affinity.

3.2 the classic image description of "harmonious two immortals"

The image is rigid, 1, mostly children's figure, wearing a bun or a bun, smiling, lively and lovely; 2. Generally, one holds the lotus and the other holds the garden basin to cater to the meaning of "harmony"; 3. Most of them are colorful, which makes the image of Hehe Erxian as a whole close to the aesthetic taste of the public and depicted in the original Zen paintings.

They love each other and are very cute. People take this opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds for living together for a long time. The objects held by Erxian are exquisite and conform to the traditional concepts and culture of China. Lotus symbolizes harmony, box symbolizes harmony, and five bats symbolize Five Blessingg. It can be said that the theme of harmonious two immortals represents good luck and harmony.

In terms of appellation, it was changed from the original Hanshan to "Hehe Erxian", and the name came from the imperial edict. In the 11th year of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1733), the replacement stone in Tiantai Hanshan was named "Hehe Sheng Di" and the replacement stone was named "Hehe Erxian", so Hanshan became "Hehe Erxian" again.

3.3 "Harmonious two immortals" cultural symbolic significance

The symbolic meaning of "Harmony with Two Immortals" includes three aspects, and it is also a collection of some folklore.

One of the meanings: it symbolizes "family harmony". According to legend, there were thousands of people in the Tang Dynasty. Because their brother went to the battlefield, their parents cried because of their concern and went to the battlefield to visit relatives. Wan Li is far away, so it is called "Wan Hui", commonly known as "Brother Wan Hui". As a symbol of family harmony, it has been worshipped as the god of "harmony" since the Song Dynasty.

The second meaning: it symbolizes "harmony between friends". This legend comes from the life of Hanshan pickup truck, and many materials have such records: Hanshan and pickup truck, one is a tramp and the other is an abandoned child. Two people meet by chance, but they are honest with each other and share weal and woe with * * *.

The third meaning: it symbolizes "harmony between husband and wife". According to legend, the two are like brothers, and * * * loves a daughter. Hanshan, who is about to get married, learned that she left home and became a monk, and also gave up her daughter to look for Hanshan. After meeting, both of them became monks and built a temple "Hanshan Temple". Moreover, even the idols of two people are shaped into a smiling god with hair on his head, holding a lotus flower and a round box, which means "harmony (harmony) (box) is good." On the wedding day, you must hang it in the bridal chamber or often in the hall for good luck.

Therefore, as a symbol of "family harmony", "friends harmony" and "husband and wife harmony", "Harmony with Two Immortals" was widely circulated among the people in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, especially in the Qing Dynasty, with various forms. Many literary plays we see today have their own characters in various forms, such as wood carving, stone carving, brick carving, jade carving and clay sculpture. It has spread widely, which can explain that the Qing Dynasty is the mature period of the image of "Harmony with Two Immortals".

4. The sublimation of the symbolic image of Hehe Erxian.

4. 1 "Harmony with two immortals" is the symbol of the current harmonious society.

In image, "Hehe Erxian" can include all the previous forms. Because "Hehe Erxian" has covered all the previous contents.

"Harmony" is the essence of China's traditional culture and harmonious values. If the "Bird's Nest" is the latest "China symbol" that can symbolize China after the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Beijing Opera. Then "harmonious two immortals" is the symbol of "harmonious culture" and "harmonious society" in China. His significance transcends the content contained in any historical period.

"Harmony with two immortals" is not only a Zen harmony and an open mind that is indifferent to freedom embodied in Hanshan's poems. The harmony between man and nature, the harmony of life style and spiritual realm, the maintenance and protection of harmonious social nature and environment, a state of mind of contentment and a real happiness. As a poem says, "I am happy and peaceful, I am in the cave of smoke and stone." Wild feelings are more open, and white clouds are always idle. There is a road that does not lead to the world and has no intention of climbing. The stone bed sits alone at night, and the full moon goes to Hanshan. "

It also includes the harmony of folk customs such as "harmony between husband and wife", "harmony between friends" and "harmony between families" in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

For example, in July, 2005, when a new party delegation from Taiwan Province Province visited Renmin University of China. Among the three gifts presented to the delegation by Renmin University, one is a traditional Chinese painting "The Picture of Two Immortals" symbolizing the early return and reunification of Taiwan Province Province.

The sense of harmony in China's traditional culture is manifested in two aspects: one is "the unity of man and nature", that is, the harmony between man and nature; The second is the "golden mean", which refers to interpersonal relationships, that is, the harmony between people and society. "The unity of man and nature" aims at recognizing the unity of man and nature and opposing their separation. The "golden mean" emphasizes a degree in dealing with the relationship between things to avoid opposition and conflict. Advocating the harmonious consciousness of "harmony is the most important" and "China is the most important" is conducive to dealing with various contradictions in modern society and maintaining social stability. These harmonious consciousness can be summarized as "harmonious culture", which is the main idea advocated by a harmonious society.

4.2 Hehe Erxian will go to the world.

It has been more than 20 years since Zhang Liwen, a famous contemporary scholar in China, explicitly put forward the so-called "harmonious learning" theory. Its influence is not limited to heresy, but also politically and even spread to foreign countries. He believes that "harmony" is the primary value of China culture and the essence of China's humanistic spirit, and only "harmony" is the unique thought of the Chinese nation; At the same time, he also clearly pointed out that the five principles of harmony, harmony, harmony and love, that is, the five core values, are the greatest principles and highest values of mankind in the 2/kloc-0 century.

"Harmony with two immortals" embodies the strong cohesion and affinity of Chinese culture. One of the essences of China culture is "harmony" culture. With the increasingly frequent international exchanges of harmonious culture, for example, at the International Symposium on Hanshanzi and Harmonious Culture on May 6, 2008 at 438+00, it was reported that the harmonious culture represented by Hanshanzi was forming a new "Hanshan fever" in international cultural exchanges. At present, Renmin University has established a special "Institute of Harmonious Culture", and Suzhou Hanshan Temple Cultural Research Institute has also been established. The "harmonious culture" has had a far-reaching influence in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, and the "Hanshan fever" formed in the current international cultural exchange reflects the positive significance of multicultural integration. The symbolic image of "Harmony and Two Immortals" will represent peace and harmony to the world with the increasing spread of "Harmony Culture"!

5 conclusion

The harmony between the two immortals symbolizes the harmony between man and nature, man and society, and man and himself. As the essence of traditional culture, harmonious culture still has its positive significance in the development of modern society. Especially the meaning of "harmonious culture" conveyed by Hanshan's poems is an important carrier of China's cultural communication. "Hehe Erxian" is its image symbol.

"Harmony with two immortals" symbolizes "harmony, harmony and peace!"

References:

[1] ethereal. Painting Creation and Evolution of Hanshan Theme, Hanshan Temple, No.2 Summer 2006.

[2] Zhao. Decorative Patterns China Academy of Art Publishing House 1999 1 month.

[3] Chen Huijian. Study on Hanshanzi, Zhejiang Monthly, Vol. 10, No.2. ..

[4] Shujiro, Teru Shimada. Research on the History of China Painting, Tokyo: Central Public Opinion Art Publishing House, 1993.

[5] Yan Yamei. On Zen Paintings in Song and Yuan Dynasties, China Buddhist Studies No.4 (March 2000) and China Buddhist Studies No.4 (March 2000).

[6] Deng Fuxing. Culture and symbols

[7] Qian Xuelie. A review of Hanshan's poems. Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House, first edition, 1998.

[8] Zhong Ling. The Spread of Hanshan Poetry is published in Comparative Study of China Classical Literature 1977.

[9] Wang Zaojuan. "Summary of Hanshanzi Research" Buddhist Research Network.

Precautions:

(1) Qian Xuelie's Hanshanzi and Hanshan Poetry Edition was published in Literary Heritage (16 records), 1983.

(2) Zen in Wu Shili's Hanshan Poems

(Author: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Suzhou Institute of Technology)

From: Times Literature, the first half of the month, 20 10, 10.