《西游记》中的“七七”与“九九”

古代文学用“七”与“九”乃至“九九”作为章节、情节联系之数度的并不少见,但是用“七七”之数,特别是以“七七”、“九九”两循环之数错综交互为章节、情节的结构素,却是《西游记》的首创。由于儒释道思想的影响,《西游记》叙事并用“七七”、“九九”之数为度。两者交叉互补,形成《西游记》章回布置与情节结构的数理机制。这一做法虽然主要是古代佛道中人才容易感知寓意,但一经揭明数理,普通读者也不难理解其加强文本叙事层次性、整体性结构的作用。

On the "Seven Times Seven" and "Nine Times Nine" in Xi You Ji

It's not rare to take"Seven","Nine"and "Nine Times Nine"as chapters and sections or plot connection.But using"Seven Times Seven"and "Nine Times Nine"as the cycle of the two figures as chapters and sections or plot in picturesque disorder,it's the first time from Xi You Ji:Both of them intersct and help each other,which shapes up the mathematical system of Zhanghui and plot structure.