論《紅樓夢》的「佳人觀」——對「才子佳人敘事」之超越及其意義

On the View of Jia-Ren in The Dream of the Red Chamber

本文聚焦於「佳人」之形象內涵與價值認知，重新釐探《紅樓夢》與才子佳人小說的互文關係。從這個角度而言，《紅樓夢》乃將《牡丹亭》、《西廂記》等納入才子佳人敘事類型，在對此一文類的全面總檢討之下，就其敘事構成之必要角色的「佳人」內涵也給予重新定義。據書中第一回所聲言的「佳人才子等書，則又千部共出一套，且其中終不能不涉於淫濫」之宣言，除了人所皆知的「千部共出一套」此一情節結構的形式缺陷之外，最關鍵的實為內容上「終不能不涉於淫濫」之認知判斷，但這一點歷來卻並未受到注意。因此本文就之深入擘析所謂「終不能不涉於淫濫」之判知標準何在，且由此一「淫濫」之旨歸，實際上也必然決定了林黛玉對《牡丹亭》、《西廂記》的接受層次，而明確地自我界定為「我又非佳人」；同時與此呼應一致的，則是脂硯齋對「佳人」的重新定義，透過脂批可以董理出其所認可的「佳人」乃是「心身自主的學識才女」，而由薛寶釵所體現。據此一「佳人」意涵在中國文學史中的轉折與回歸，更確證曹雪芹有意識地推翻了中國敘事文學對浪漫愛情觀的看法。

This article discusses the inter-textual relationship between The Dream of the Red Chamber and the preceeding examples of Scholar-beauty Romance (Cai-Zi Jia-Ren Novels) by focusing upon the image, meaning and evaluation of “beauty” (Jia-Ren) in The Dream of the Red Chamber. The Dream of the Red Chamber categorizes the Peony Pavilion and The West Chamber, among others, into Scholar-beauty Romance and points out their common lust narrative pattern, concluding that these romances “are required to involve some licentious excess”. Thus The Dream of the Red Chamber highlights the essential constituent role of “beauty” in these romances, and gives it a clear delineation. Through the above analysis, I discuss the degree to which Lin Dai-Yu accepts and approves of the concept of “lust” in the Romance of West Chamber and Peony Pavilion. I argue that Lin Dai-yu’s acceptance of these works is in alignment with and shows affinity to the theme of sentimental melancholy in the Chinese lyrical poem tradition. I also explore the sense that Lin clearly declines to be deemed as a “beauty”. Then, I discuss the re-interpretation of “beauty” by Zhiyanzhai（脂硯齋）. I propose that Zhiyanzhai understands “beauty” as a talented and well-learning female who is charming both physically and mentally, as embodied in Xue Bao-chai. Thus, through the twists and turns around the images of “beauty” in these works, I show that Cao Xueqin consciously and intentionally overturns the traditional view of romantic love in Chinese narrative literature.