陶渊明《荣木》的作年和篇旨——以末章为重点的重读

The Writing Year and Purpose of Rong Mu by Tao Yuanming——Focusing on Its Last Chapter

关于《荣木》的作年,很多陶学研究者都根据末章“四十无闻,斯不足畏”句,判定作于作者40岁时。但此二句只是对孔子原话的引述,不能当作作者的自述直接作为本篇作于作者40岁时的依据。根据陶渊明在诗中表露的内心焦虑推测,本篇应作于陶渊明40岁将至而未至时。对于本诗的篇旨,一般多解为作者急欲建功立业的心情表露,但更确切的理解,应该是抒发了作者因学道未成而产生的焦虑心情,表达了他想要在为时不多的时间里达到学道有成境界的渴望。从陶渊明40岁前后的思想和出处行为看,这一时期的陶渊明并不存在强烈的事功观念,回归田园、独善其身、过自由自在的生活才是他的理想。归隐田园,求道独善,二者相辅相成,正反映了陶渊明儒道兼综的思想特征。

According to last chapter of Rong Mu,“No reputation at 40,it's not respectful enough”,scholars judge that Tao wrote it at age 40.However,these two sentences are only quotations from the original words of Confucius,not the author's own account,which is not strong enough to verify this judgement.According to the inner anxiety revealed in the poetry,it may be written by Tao approaching his age 40.People often interpret the purpose of this poem as Tao's expression of eagerly desire to build up a big career.More precisely,it expresses his anxiety which was caused by the failure to learn Dao,and wanted to reach the realm of Dao in a short time.From his thoughts and behaviors around age 40,Tao did not have a strong concept of meritorious service in this period,his ideal was returning to the countryside to enjoy a free life.Returning to seclusion and seeking for Dao's independence and goodness,the two complement each other,which reflects Tao's characteristics of both Confucianism and Taoism.