In the history of Japanese literature, there is a genius writer who has become a representative of both demonicism and aestheticism. Yasunari Kawabata boasts that his works are "gorgeous, like the most brilliant peonies". His works are full of exploration of beauty and art, strong contradictions and conflicts, and exaggerated and curious plots. But whether it is describing the chaotic relationship between the sexes or the twisted hearts of the characters, his words present an extreme sense of beauty.
This talented writer is Junichiro Tanizaki.
As an admirer of women, Junichiro Tanizaki likes to portray beautiful and powerful female characters, depicting male masochism and alternative fetishes. The Japanese aestheticist writer Nagai Hokaze once said: "In the modern Meiji literary world, Tanizaki Junichiro has successfully opened up an artistic field in which no one has been able to intervene, or no one has ever wanted to intervene." One of the greatest features of his works is that due to the horror of the flesh, mysterious mysteries are produced. ”
Stills from the film adaptation of the novel of the same name, Swastika
"Yugen" was first proposed by Ōshikori, which refers to "the Aesthetic Pursuit and Preference of the Japanese for Dark, Ambiguous, Ambiguous, and Mysterious Tastes." Tanizaki refers to this Japanese aesthetic as "Yin Feng", and he points out in the "Yin Yi Praise", "Beauty does not exist in objects, but in the ripples and light and shade of the yin and yin produced by things and things." ”
As Tanizaki's first work after his transformation, "Haruka" fully reflects Tanizaki's fascination with the "beauty of yin". Whether it is the final blindness of the male and female protagonists, or the ambiguous relationship between each other, they all meet the aesthetic standards in "Yin Yi Praise". In Harumi Scribe, Tanizaki writes about sadomasochism and the Japanese "beauty of yin" in depth and to the extreme.
Compared with the chaotic depictions of lust in the early days, "Chunqin Copied" creates a beautiful and pure love. Chunqin is a rich woman with both talents and looks. But his mind is twisted by disfigurement, and his life is inconvenient because of blindness. Her parents had her apprentice Sasuke serve her daily routine. One night, Haruka discovers that Sasuke, who steals shamisen, is talented, so she asks him to learn the art with him.
Later, although the two fell in love for a long time, they gave birth to a son. However, Chunqin maintained her identity as "master and apprentice" and "master and servant", denying each other's lover relationship. Sasuke has no complaints or regrets about this, and does not hesitate to destroy his eyes in order to retain the eternal beauty of Haruka in his heart. Since then, the two have continued to spend the rest of their lives together in the name of master and apprentice and master and servant.
Haruka's pathological relationship with Sasuke stems from a twisted heart. And behind this heart, there is extreme narcissism and inferiority. This desire to get "love" from others, but refuses to admit it, is actually a behavioral manifestation of a pathological personality.
So, what are Chunqin's pathological performances in love?
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >01, Haruka's pathological performance in love: a twisted lover's relationship with Sasuke</h1>
Sasuke has been serving Haruka since he was 14 years old. At first, Chunqin only regarded him as a servant. As the days passed, Haruka became more and more dependent on Sasuke in life and emotion. Sasuke also went from being a "hand-in-hand servant" to Haruka's "closed disciple".
The "master-apprentice game" made Chunqin forget the pain and loneliness of being blind, and also let her regain her sense of superiority before she became blind. Gradually, the two became a true "master-apprentice relationship.". Haruka begins to show her sadistic tendencies, taking advantage of the opportunity to teach and enjoy the pleasure of scolding Sasuke.
In everyone's eyes, Haruka and Sasuke's relationship is confusing. On the one hand, they are inseparable. Except for Sasuke, no one could satisfy Haruka. On the other hand, their master-servant relationship is too strict and lacks humanity. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like a pair of lovers who have just opened their hearts.
Later, Chunqin became pregnant before marriage. No matter how everyone knocked on the side, she did not talk about the father of the child. She said she planned not to marry for life, and at the same time refused to marry Sasuke in a categorical manner.
Many people don't understand Haruka, why do you obviously love Sasuke, but you deny it? Why do you love him so much, afraid of him leaving, but then abuse him again and again?
In fact, haruka and Sasuke's twisted relationship stems from her "pathological" personality. Psychotherapist Karen pointed out in The Sick Personality of Our Time that pathological personality is a personality disorder that refers to a personality whose psychology or emotions deviate from normal. The biggest difference between it and the normal personality in love is that the former pays attention to the sense of self-security, while the latter will pay attention to the feelings of both parties in love at the same time.
In the story of "Haruka", whether it is the denial of the relationship between lovers or the unscrupulous scolding of Sasuke, it is Haruka who is driven by the psychology of "uneasiness" to resist the inner uncertainty of the external world. Her performance in the relationship is not a true mature love, but a "sick" and "twisted" selfish performance.
So, how did Chunqin's pathological personality come about? Born from a superior background and full of talent, how did she become a tragic heroine with a twisted heart? How did her tragedy inspire us?
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >02, how is Chunqin's pathological personality formed? </h1>
Chunqin's pathological expression of her lover stems from a strong sense of insecurity and inferiority in her heart. Her distortion is mainly caused by the following reasons.
1. Low self-esteem due to physical disability
Chunqin girl has been pampered since she was a child, and her personality is inevitably arrogant and arrogant, but her words and deeds are kind and kind, she cares for the people under her, and she is lively and cheerful, getting along with others and brothers and sisters, and the family likes her very much.
Unfortunately, Chunqin, who was originally cute and kind, became obedient due to blindness in both eyes. She was melancholy, rarely spoke cheerfully, smiled rarely, and was always taciturn.
After going blind, Chunqin, although dependent on Sasuke for everything, thinks it is a humiliation to ask others for help. She was unwilling to admit that she needed someone else, that she was unwilling to put herself under the favor of others. She strenuously denies the fact that she can only take from Sasuke, but not give.
Wanting to get warmth, she had to deliberately highlight her dominance. It made Sasuke feel honored to accept her help.
As the book says,
On the other hand, physical defects make Chunqin inferior and sensitive. Anyone who despises and questions her will provoke her anger. In this process, Chunqin gradually became abusive. Her harshness on Sasuke's piano skills is not really for his own good, but only by degrading others to gain a sense of superiority.
2. Tangled by the disparity in rank
The story of "Harumi" takes place in Osaka, Japan after the Meiji Restoration. At that time, Osaka people paid more attention to the door, property and pomp than Tokyoites in marriage.
Therefore, Miss Qianjin, who was born into an old-fashioned family like Chunqin, naturally refuses to abandon her reserved and proud personality. Although sasuke was needed both mentally and physically, he could not get rid of the feudal concept of being with Sasuke who had been enslaved for generations.
Junichiro Tanizaki writes in the book:
On the one hand, she loves Sasuke. On the other hand, she is ashamed of having physical relationships with lowly men. She was afraid that others would laugh at her, and because of the eye disease, she lowered herself to the status of a slave. For her, it was a great insult. Therefore, because of the reaction of this mentality, he adopted a cold attitude towards Sasuke. Obviously in love, but denying it, and deliberately abusing it.
3. Fear of Sasuke leaving
On the surface, Chunqin has always been at an advantage in the relationship. But in fact, it is just the opposite, and Haruko is more afraid of Sasuke's departure than Sasuke's fear of herself.
When Sasuke imitated her closing her eyes to practice the shamisen, Harumi felt humiliated. She thought Sasuke was deliberately laughing at her and looking down on herself. In the final analysis, she was always afraid that Sasuke's love for her was out of sympathy, and even more afraid that one day Sasuke would suddenly get tired of herself and begin to dislike her blind self.
Haruko, longing for love, refuses to acknowledge her love for Sasuke. Fearing Sasuke's departure, he has been using high-pressure and high-powered means to control him. Only when something unexpected happens, Chunqin will say the truest thoughts in her heart:
However, once the situation turned around, she once again called Sasuke a "servant" and an "apprentice", without showing the slightest love. Because as long as Sasuke doesn't know his love for him and doesn't confirm his relationship with him, there will not be a day when he will be rejected and abandoned.
In the end, the arrogance of her parents and Sasuke's laissez-faire also made Haruka miss the opportunity to correct. Haruka, who was originally arrogant, began to intensify under Sasuke's welcome and resignation. Her pathological relationship with Sasuke gradually became a stable mode of getting along.
At the end of the story, Haruka has been selfishly enjoying Sasuke's care and attention, but throughout her life she has not dared to admit her dependence and love for Sasuke.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >03, what does the tragedy of Chunqin inspire us? </h1>
If blindness is a mistake of heaven, then the disfigurement is caused by Chunqin herself. Chunqin's arbitrariness, willfulness and enemies everywhere are just to vent her inner resentment. By torturing Sasuke, she regains a sense of control over the outside world.
If Haruka could accept her own eye disease, accept the reality of Sasuke's humble status, and make her treatment of people a little more mellow and modest, maybe she would not be annoying and disfigured.
On the other hand, Chunqin has been sealing off her heart in order to cover up the inferiority brought about by physical defects. She wanted to love but did not dare to love, dared to love but did not dare to recognize. Her tragedy also led directly to Sasuke's tragedy. Sasuke abandoned his self-esteem and admired Haruka all his life. This twisted love is both touching and heart-wrenching.
Although Junichiro Tanizaki tried to describe the sadistic love between the two as "beautiful pure love" in "Harumi Copy". But from this twisted and pathological relationship, we can see that the so-called "aesthetic pure love" is nothing more than Haruka's one-sided selfish taking and Sasuke's wishful thinking. These two parties who seem to be "happy" make the onlookers "creepy".
Because a mature lover should not only enjoy "being loved", but also have the ability to "love". What we seek is not an illusion of love, but a real intimacy. Love should not be a one-way effort, but a two-way benefit.
So, what should we do to become a mature, qualified lover?
1. Face up to your own heart and accept your own imperfections
Chunqin, who has a "sick personality", is overly concerned about herself. While she easily abandons the people around her, she is afraid that the people around her will leave her. However, because she escapes from her own heart and is unwilling to accept her own imperfections, Chunqin will be in an uneasy state all her life.
Adler once said, "Inferiority can destroy you and make you happen." Beyond inferiority, you will become a strong inner self." In the face of sudden misfortunes and changes in life, we need to learn to understand and accept. When we begin to accept our imperfections and understand that "there are nine times out of ten that life is not satisfactory", we can face the sudden changes in life with a calm attitude. Only by recognizing yourself from the bottom of your heart can you heal your unfortunate pains. Only in this way can we break free from the shackles of public opinion and have the ability to love ourselves and others.
2, in intimate relationships to dare to express their needs
Although ignoring inner vulnerability can make you look "very strong", you invisibly make yourself distorted and depressed.
So, don't think that asking your partner for help is inferior, and don't refuse to ask your partner for help because of excessive self-esteem. Because a mature relationship is one that we can both appreciate, support, and rely on each other.
3. Learn to express your love correctly
Chunqin hides her emotions because she is afraid of losing.
And by controlling abuse, cover up your sincerity.
From this point on, Sasuke was unable to feel the care and affection of his lover in her.
In fact, a quality intimate relationship should make both of you feel loved.
And a mature lover never skimps on expressing love to the other person. He can not only enjoy love to the fullest, but also allow lovers to fully feel their love.
Haruka and Sasuke's sadistic love affair made me realize that in love, giving is never the hardest. Cherishing, understanding, and giving back to the other person's efforts is the hardest.
Therefore, do not take the lover's efforts for granted like Chunqin, but respond in time.
Don't deliberately hide your love for love, but tell the other party in time:
I see your efforts and thank you for all the efforts you have done for me.
As the American psychic writer Barbara put it, "Love can be used to hurt and can be used to heal."
When you choose love, you don't feel lonely.
And when you learn how to love and feel love, you become a winner in life.
Resources:
Tanizaki Koichiro, Shunkinsho
Junichiro Tanizaki, "Tribute to the Shadows"
Karen, The Sick Personality of Our Time