“两行”与“环中”:《人间世》寓言结构关系新论

“Two Lines”and“Rings”:A New Theory of the Structural Relationship of Allegory in The Human World

《人间世》的前三则寓言呈现由“内”向“外”的特点,共同说明内修对于解决外在处世问题的决定性作用。自颜阖问于蘧伯玉至颜回见仲尼寓言,讨论的问题以颜阖的提问为原型,逐渐具体、丰富;提出的对策由“顺”到“心斋”,逐渐向己、向内;方法的效用由“正身”到“鬼神来舍”,逐渐向外。后五则寓言以无用自保为主旨,呈现有层次的递进关系。以荆氏楸柏寓言为转承点,论述对象由木转为人。八则寓言呈“2+1+5”的结构模式。颜阖问于蘧伯玉寓言作为结构模式中的“1”,是八则寓言的逻辑中心。《人间世》的主旨紧紧围绕这个“1”,包含两个层次:以心斋内修,以自保处世。后者既是实现前者的途径,又对前者有所超越。

The first three fables of The Human World present the characteristics of“inside”to“outside”,which together illustrate the decisive role of internal cultivation in solving the problem of external life.From the fable of Yan He’s questioning to Chen Boyu to the fable of Yan Hui’s meeting of Confucius,the questions discussed are based on Yan He’s questioning,which are gradually specific and rich.The proposed countermeasures are from“Shun”to“Xinzhai”,and gradually to oneself and inward.The effectiveness of the method has gradually shifted from“righteous body”to“ghost and god abandonment”,and gradually outward.The last five fables are based on useless self-preservation,presenting a hierarchical progressive relationship.Taking the fable of Jing’s Catalpa as the point of transfer,the object of discussion is changed from wood to human.The eight fables are structured in a“2+1+5”pattern.As the“1”in the structural model,the fable of Yan He’s questioning to Chen Boyu is the logical center of the eight fables.The main theme of The Human World revolves around this"1",which contains two levels:having inner cultivation with the heart and managing affairs with self-preservation.The latter is both a way to achieve the former,and a transcendence of the former.