“女娲补天”的全新阐释

《红楼梦》里＂女娲补天＂的故事来自佛教,是《五灯会元》里＂女娲补天＂故事诗意化的演绎。小说以曹雪芹家族百年兴衰史为素材,敷演了贾府百年兴衰成败的历史,借贾宝玉挣脱佛法枷锁、走出浊法和清法迷人的圈子、获得大自由与大安宁的非凡经历写出了曹雪芹在现实生活中受释迦牟尼生平事迹启发、发愤图强、磨炼心志、摆脱烦恼和痛苦束缚、谱写不朽篇章的传奇人生。神话传说、禅宗典籍、《红楼梦》里的＂女娲补天＂的故事,虽然内容和思想略有参商,但蕴含的精神却完全相同,即体现了传说史上的女娲、宗教史上的释迦牟尼和文学史上的曹雪芹伟大的仁爱精神和淑世精神。

A New Interpretation of Goddess Nu Wa Mending the Sky

The story of Goddess Nu Wa Mending the Sky inA Dream of Red Mansionsoriginated from Buddhism,is a poetic interpretation of the story inThe First on the List of Five Lanterns.Based on the material of the rise and fall of Cao Xueqin’s family,the novel plays a century history of vicissitudes of Jia Household.Through the special experience of Jia Baoyu who escaped from dharma shackles,got out of the alluring circle and eventually obtained great freedom and tranquility,Cao Xueqin describes his own legendary life in which he was inspired by Sakyamuni’s life story,rose in great vigor,reinforced his determination and finally got rid of trouble and pain.Although the content of Goddess Nu Wa Mending the Sky is different in Mythologies,Zen Buddhism classics andA Dream of Red Mansions,the spirit is exactly the same.It reflects the great spirit of humanity and benevolence of Goddess Nu Wa in legend,Sakyamuni in Buddhism history and Cao Xueqin in literature.