“以玉帛为草土”解

An Interpretation on "Taking Jade and Silk as Weed and Soil"

杨明照先生《抱朴子外篇校笺·嘉遯》:"草土,鄙夷之辞。""‘粪土’与此文之‘草土’,字虽有异,含义固不殊也。"庞月光先生《抱朴子外篇全译·嘉遯》注释:"草土,犹言粪土,鄙夷轻贱之辞也。"译文:"将宝玉绫罗视如粪土。"按,两位先生所言,皆与"玉帛""草土"内涵无涉。"玉帛"乃朝廷礼聘之物,"草土"乃居亲丧所用之物。"草土"指居父母大丧时,寝苫枕块,哀亲在草在土。句谓:把朝廷用"玉帛"礼聘自己为高官这种喜庆事视为居父母大丧时寝苫枕块哀亲在草在土的悲伤事。

Mr Yang Mingzhao in his Notes on Baopuziwaipian： In Praising of Recluses interprets ＂Weed and soil are words showing dislike. Shit and soil are different from weed and soil, but the meaning are similar.＂ While Mr Pang Yueguang in his Complete Translation of Baopuziwaipian： In Praising of Recluses elaborates ＂Weed and soil figuratively mean shit and soil, something unwelcome or disgusting＂ . He renders it as ＂Taking jade and silk as disgusting as weed and shit＂. The author considers that the two scholars＇ interpretations are far beyond the inside meaning of jade and silk, or weed and soil. Jade and silk were used by the courts in ancient China as symbols of invitation and appointment, but weed and soil were objects used by sons of the deceased father or mother during the funeral. Weed and soil were used as supporter of the head when they were sleeping, that was a symbolic behavior mourning the return of the deceased to the soil and grass. Thus the interpretation is the invitation and appointment with jade and silk from the court is as sad as the mourning by resting the head on weed and soil during the funeral.