The oracle bone script is the earliest mature writing system discovered in China so far, the source of Chinese characters and the root of China's excellent traditional culture. Since the discovery of oracle bone for more than 120 years, through the joint exploration of scholars at home and abroad, the historical and cultural mysteries have gradually been unveiled, and oracle bone science has become an international prominent science that has attracted worldwide attention. What few people know is that Ma Zhitu, a 107-year-old literary giant this year, is still making great achievements in the field of oracle bone and oracle bone science, which is known as "absolute learning". A few days ago, Ma Zhitu's first oracle bone work, "Notes on the Oracle Bones of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University", was officially published and distributed by the Sichuan People's Publishing House. This book is the only oracle bone note published by the Southwest United University, which has valuable historical value and is both literary, intellectual, ideological and interesting.
"In my own creation, I pursue Chinese style and Chinese style, that is, to learn from the strengths of tradition and make the people happy to hear." Oracle bone and other paleography is originally very professional, but I think this book is written for the public, I try to write a little literary, for everyone to read at their leisure. On the occasion of the publication of "Notes on oracle bones of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University", Ma Zhitu revealed some of his thoughts when writing the book.
In the preface to the new book, "Me and the Oracle", Ma Zhitu further explains: "After 80 years, few friends know that I studied and studied Oracle at the National Southwest United University (which was composed of Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University during the War of Resistance Against Japan, and later referred to as Southwest United University). I'm telling my friends about my relationship with Oracle now. ”
Originally, Ma Zhitu, who was responsible for important work in the local leading organs of the underground party, was admitted to the Department of Literature of the Foreign Chinese of the Southwest United University in 1941 under the arrangement of the party organization, and later transferred to the Department of Chinese Literature. According to the "three-diligence policy" of "diligent study and diligent friendship" put forward by the party, Ma Zhitu participated in the underground party work at the Southwest United Congress on the one hand and served as the secretary of the southwest United University branch of the CPC; on the other hand, he studied diligently under the famous scholars throughout the country.
Ma Zhitu once took courses such as "Shuowen Interpretation" and "Oracle Bone" taught by Professor Tang Lan, a major philologist, "Phonology" opened by Professor Luo Changpei, and "Bronze Inscription Golden Stone Science" opened by Professor Chen Mengjia. And the lecture taught by Professor Tang Lan on paleography became an unforgettable lesson for Ma Zhitu. "Many of the words we use are evolved from ancient hieroglyphs. As soon as you check the etymology, it is clear. Don't think of this as cold scholarship, it has a lot to do with the evolution and development of Chinese culture. You have to start by reading "Explaining Words and Sayings". Often the invention of an ancient script is like the discovery of a new star in the sky to bring endless happiness to researchers. This is an interesting, academically valuable and important discipline! Professor Tang Lan's speech aroused the interest of many students, including Ma Zhitu, in studying the origin and flow of ancient characters.
▲Ma Lao is browsing "Ma Zhitu Southwest United University Oracle Notes"
Two years later, the last lesson taught by Professor Tang Lan made Ma Zhitu unforgettable. In the book "Notes on the Oracle Bones of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University", Ma Zhitu wrote: "Professor Tang Lan said to us sincerely: 'We have taught each other, and the study of ancient characters will end. In fact, I have not taught you much knowledge, but I have only opened the door for you to study paleography and pointed out to you a little way forward. The knowledge of paleography is vast, and not many people have stepped into it. Some people only got their shoes wet at the beach, and when they saw the waves, they retreated in difficulty; some people swam into the sea, some gave up halfway, and some were submerged by water. Only a few people can have a strong will, will persevere, ride the wind and waves, and march forward courageously to the other side of the looming. Although it is inevitable to load and float, eat a lot of bitter water, and eventually reach the other shore. Step onto a dense academic forest, where the sun shines, the rain and the wind are fierce, and the thorns are thick, but the fruits of success are tempting to move forward. Some are blockbusters; some are obscure; some are wandering in the academic forest, and they have lived their lives, but they have died without regrets. I believe that although the road to scholarship is bumpy, there is always Chinese constantly exploring, even if it is not to read a word, it is also a contribution to Chinese culture. Now I have opened the door for you and led you to the great seashore, and I will see you swim bravely into the sea to the other shore, all depending on your own talent and diligence. Now let's see one of you holding a set of Notes on the Interpretation of Words and Words, and traveling in the sea of words under the guidance of the five hundred and forty heads of the five hundred and forty heads of the "words are grouped together and things are divided into groups" principle. ”
Ma Zhitu's teachings to the professors, especially Professor Tang Lan's guidance on "Speaking and Interpreting Words", were understood by his heart. He opened the Commentary on the Interpretation of The Words and began to study the first word on the first page... In this way, Ma Zhitu has made great achievements in the field of Oracle research. However, when he graduated from university, Ma Zhitu was ordered by the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to leave the Southwest United University. In order to keep his work confidential, he had to give up his academic research at Southwest United University and burn all the relevant notes.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Ma Zhitu held various leadership positions in the party, and successively served as a director, advisor and honorary member of the Chinese Writers Association, the chairman and honorary chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literature and Literature, the chairman and honorary chairman of the Sichuan Writers Association, the vice president of the Chinese Poetry Society, and the vice president of the China Guo Moruo Research Society. Ma Zhitu said frankly: "I have been carrying heavy loads and floating for more than 70 years, and I have been engaged in fine industry, but I did not dare to make other mistakes, so I was isolated from Oracle. But I often remember those years, and I never forgot the teachings of the masters. After I left, in my spare time in literary creation, I actually recalled what I had done and began to write 'Oracle Bone Collection'; especially after the completion of my "Continuation of the Night Tan" in 2017, I devoted myself to the study of ancient characters including oracle bones and gold texts. "It is admirable that during the creation of the Oracle Notes, Ma Zhitu was interrupted by two or three hospitalizations, but even if he was hospitalized with illness, he always kept the oracle bone manuscript in mind.
In 2021, the "Oracle Notes of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University" was finally released, and in Ma Zhitu's words, "this may be a late homework for the masters of Southwest United University 80 years ago."
▲ Huang Lixin sent a new book to Ma Lao
A few days ago, when Huang Lixin, president of the Sichuan People's Publishing House, delivered the new book to Ma Zhitu, Ma Zhitu took a magnifying glass and browsed it from beginning to end, looked at the book and said, "Very good, whether it is from editing or binding, it is the best done, I am very satisfied." "This book is the most beautifully framed of all my books."
"Notes on the Oracle Bones of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University" has a total of three volumes, including the first volume of "Southwest United University Classroom Fun", which is divided into 15 lessons, such as "Opening Class to Ask 'Things'", "Speaking 'Southwest United University Spirit'", "Interesting Dialect Ancient Phonetic Characters", "The Power of the Word 'China'", "Chinese Characters With Close and Different Sounds", "The Last Lesson", etc., and the middle volume "Ma Zhitu Oracle Bone Collection" is divided into "Just Start with 'One'", "Interesting Family Members", "Special Words Related to Weapon Images", "Mighty' Wang's 'genus of characters', "ingenious ancient characters" and other 13 memories, the next volume is "Ma Zhitu "Speaking Text Interpretation". The book vividly reproduces the interesting teaching scenes of Southwest United University linguists Luo Changpei, Tang Lan, Wen Yiduo, Wang Li, Chen Mengjia, etc., especially the essence of Professor Tang Lan's research on Oracle and other studies; vividly shows the quality of the masters' diligent and diligent study, humble and rigorous personality charm and free and enlightened teaching style of famous schools; three-dimensionally shows Ma Zhitu's experience and experience in overcoming the invasion of illness and immersing himself in the study of Oracle at the age of 100 years, as well as his optimistic, open-minded, and persevering spirit. From this, we can also glimpse the charm of the spirit and bloodline inheritance of this legendary school of Southwest United University.
▲ Ma Lao and Ah Lai
Alai, chairman of the Sichuan Writers Association, expressed his respect for Ma Zhitu's unswerving love and pursuit of literature. He said: "At the age of 105, when the "Continuation of the Night Tan" was published, Ma Lao said that he had closed his pen. I said I was afraid it couldn't be sealed. Sure enough, at the age of 107, he came out with a new book. Because the memories of youth burn like fire. Working underground, the revolution was his youth. Southwest United University, Oracle is also his youth. This book is good, not only to explain the words, but also the cultural memory of an era. Good memories, from the source of words, from between form and meaning, calmly displayed. ”
In Ma Zhitu's view, this oracle bone note, "although it basically did not get rid of the notes taken in the oracle bone class of the Southwest United University that year, but I wanted to try to check the omissions and fill in the gaps in the original manuscript, especially to supplement some of Professor Tang Lan's independent insights, which may be of some help to the popular science oracle bone." The results were disappointing and failed to materialize. This time re-reading the oracle bone, I also classified the oracle bone, selected some of the words in the oracle bone I had read, and wrote it one by one according to the order I designed, according to simplified, traditional, oracle, pinyin, "Shuowen Jiezi", Tang's new solution, etc., and strived to be easy to recognize and understand. According to Professor Tang Lan's often said, "people as the center", such as man and nature, man and family..."
Ma Zhitu said frankly: "The memories of the ancient characters taught by the masters in the class of the Southwest United University and the explanation of the ancient characters may be the last meritorious thing that I, an old man, can do." In this regard, Tie Ning, chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and chairman of the China Writers Association, said: "This "Notes on the Oracle Bones of Ma Zhitu Southwest United University" witnesses Ma Lao's long-lasting love for Chinese characters and the broad traditions they carry, and also witnesses the unshakable cultural self-confidence of a revolutionary writer like gold and stone. (Readers' Daily all-media reporter He Jian)
Editor: Wang Xin Responsible Editor: Dong Xiaoyue Review: Zhou Hua