論《紅樓夢》中「意淫」一詞的出處及其幽默與意義

On the Origin of the “Lust of the Mind,” Its Humor, and Significance in Honglou meng

「意淫」是《紅樓夢》形容其主人公賈寶玉的關鍵概念。古今讀者多以為此乃曹雪芹自鑄新詞。本文則指出，「意淫」實源自古代醫典《黃帝內經》﹔曹公挪而用之，並轉義發揮，目的在於刻畫寶玉的異常性情。文章析論小說是如何翻貶為褒，由「風月寶鑑」所戒的「賈瑞式意淫」轉而為警幻仙姑所贊的「寶玉式意淫」，以將寶玉塑造成一顆情種、一位「閨閣良友」、一個世人嘲笑的紈袴情癡。本文例示了寶玉意淫的主要特徵及其詭怪可笑之處。於曹公如此古為我用，推陳出新之中，筆者感到盎然其間的諧趣，並認為這種幽默透露出至少三個消息：一、古代中醫及其房中養生思想對《紅樓夢》的影響；二、《紅樓夢》脫胎於《風月寶鑑》的形跡；三、小說作者對情欲關係的哲思。

In Honglou meng (紅樓夢 The Dream of the Red Chamber), the uniqueness of its hero, Jia Baoyu 賈寶玉, is characterized by his “lust of the mind” (yiyin 意淫). A prevailing perception among readers and critics of the novel has been that this word was coined by the book’s author, Cao Xueqin 曹雪芹. This essay argues that yiyin actually originates in The Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi neijing 黃帝內經), and that Cao Xueqin appropriated the term from this and/or other medical classics, and “revolutionized” its meaning in order to portray Jia Baoyu’s prenatal and postnatal eccentricities. Through detailed analysis, the article shows how the novelist transformed the term from a pejorative denoting carnal lust, which the novel sets out to condemn, into a panegyric on Baoyu as an understanding and caring “romantic,” whom women regard as their true friend or Mr. Right, whereas others view him as a playboy and laughingstock. Equally significant, the laughable characteristics of Baoyu’s “lust of the mind” also demonstrate the love and the ironic humor with which the novelist depicted his hero. Furthermore, the borrowing of the idea of “lust of the mind” and turning of its meaning upside down in the portrayal of Baoyu reveals at least three things about the novel: (a) the influence of traditional Chinese medicine, especially its “bedroom art” (fangzhong shu 房中術), on Honglou meng; (b) the novel’s derivation or outgrowth from its earlier and more erotic version; and (c) the novelist’s contemplation on the relationship between lust and love.