Foreword: "Dusk Kiyobei" is a famous masterpiece by Japanese era novelist Shuhei Fujisawa, published in 1988. The book tells the story of the "little people" of eight alternative samurai. These samurai are like most of our daily lives. They were all office workers in the Edo period, working in the city every day, and when they came home from work, they had to do their best to do side jobs to subsidize their families. Not only that, buying vegetables and cooking, taking care of their wives, and taking care of their children are their ultimate "goals". These goals are even greater than the temptations of fame and fortune, and higher than the commands of the lord.
The author of this book, Shuhei Fujisawa, is a Japanese writer of novels of the time. The first half of his life was very bumpy, the teenager fell ill, lost his wife in middle age, and the unfortunate fate did not seriously damage his novelist ambitions, and he continued to write silently until the age of forty-seven, won the Naoki Prize for "The Ring of Assassination", and began his own path as a novelist. Most of his works are set in the Edo period, depicting the joys and sorrows of the common people and the lower samurai at that time, and exploring the dignity of the low-level people and the pride of mortals. Shuhei Fujisawa's works have sold more than 23 million copies in Japan.
I thought that this was a jianghu novel similar to a Chinese martial arts novel, full of "chivalry" and majestic atmosphere, but when I read it carefully, I found that it was not. This novel is more about depicting the ordinary life of the little character "Hero" who "ends the hero". But if you think about it, which hero is not an ordinary person?
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >01, similarities and differences between Chinese wuxia novels and Japanese wuxia novels</h1>
In Japan, there is no concept of "martial arts novels". When we generally say Japanese martial arts novels, we refer to period novels. So, what is a period novel?
Period novels are a literary genre unique to Japan, and they are somewhat similar to historical novels, depicting the stories of characters from a bygone era. But the difference is that historical fiction is based on real history, while the story of period novels is generally fictional.
In Japanese era novels, there are basically various samurai images, and over time, we will call Japanese era novels martial arts novels. I think it's probably because, like Chinese martial arts novels, he depicts all kinds of martial arts people.
But on closer inspection, there are still many differences between Japanese martial arts novels and Chinese martial arts novels. In my opinion, there are the following aspects:
1. Chinese novels have magnificent rivers and lakes, in the dream, while Japanese martial arts novels are once history and live in reality
Take Mr. Jin Yong's martial arts novels as an example: although Mr. Jin Yong's characters have prototypes, most of them are fictional. This kind of fiction is not only the fiction of the characters, but also the fiction of the times. Thinking about it carefully, except for "Deer Ding", we do not know in which era Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, Guo Jing Huang Rong, Zhou Botong and Huang Yaoshi were born. Not only that, under Mr. Jin Yong's pen, each martial arts character will have its own class concept, gang character, code of conduct, etc., in short, Chinese martial arts novels are more like a parallel world. The people inside seem to live in another place, they all have different codes of conduct, this kind of dreamy jianghu, is imagination, but also illusion.
Japanese martial arts novels are different. Writers write about much of the history of the past. Samurai, like us, are human beings who live in the same time and space. Japanese novelists don't seem to dare to create a "jianghu" for their characters. Therefore, most of their works are based on life, depicting more of the past history, the life that was once there. Therefore, Japanese martial arts novels live in reality, and they are in the same world as us.
2. Chinese heroes are brave and courageous, full of courage and clouds, and do not eat human fireworks; Japanese heroes are ordinary and inconspicuous, full of fireworks
In Chinese martial arts novels, whether it is Guo Jing, who guards the city of Xiangyang, Yang Guo, who is also good and evil, or Qiao Feng, the leader of the gang of the great heroes of the country. All of our feelings are loyal and courageous, benevolent and righteous, and the image of heroes who serve the country and the people. Just like Guo Jing, who has guarded Xiangyang City all his life, helps eliminate the enemy Yang Guo, and helps the country fight against the enemy's Qiao Feng. In our hearts, they are all perfect heroes, such heroes, high above, and out of reach of our lives.
Japan's heroes, on the other hand, are ordinary people in life. They also have their own troubles and need to earn money to support their families, like the 8 samurai in this book. In Shuhei Fujisawa's pen, these "samurai" are more like a profession. Every day, nine to five in the morning, it will also be troublesome for family and work. These samurai seem to be the majority of our lives.
3. Chinese heroes come with special effects and rich plot depictions; Japanese heroes appear only a few times, and only know the basic information
In Chinese novels, the appearance of each character is like special effects. Details are abundant, such as the depiction of Huang Rong's appearance:
The young man was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a black and dark torn leather hat on his head, his face was full of black coal, he had long been unable to see his true face, he was holding a steamed bun in his hand, giggling and smiling, revealing two rows of shiny snow white teeth, but it was extremely out of proportion to his whole body. The eyes are pitch black and very agile.
I saw a woman at the stern holding a paddle boat, long hair shawl, all white clothes, a gold belt tied in her hair, and the snow was shining brightly. Guo Jing saw that this young girl was dressed like a fairy, and he couldn't help but look stunned. The boat slowly swung closer, only to see this woman Fang Dangyun age, but fifteen or sixteen years old, her skin was more beautiful than snow, delicate, and her appearance was absolutely beautiful, and she could not be forced to look at. Guo Jing only felt dazzling flowers, and did not dare to look at it again...
When Mr. Jin Yong described the appearance of the characters, the details were particularly well written. Dress, dress, look, look. It's as if this person can make us think of the real thing.
Japanese novels are different. The Guards inside seem to be ordinary people, doing ordinary professions, with their own small troubles and worries about life. as:
The drum sounded after work, and the Qingbing guards were the first to go out of the office as usual, bought onions on the way, bought tofu, went home to the kitchen to put down the onions, and soaked the tofu with a small bucket of water. Take off the knife and change your clothes. Pick up your lying wife and help her go to the bathroom. Then let the wife lie down and go into the kitchen, cook rice, cook soup. After cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks, he engaged in the side business of weaving insect cages, and did it while talking to his wife. The wife was tired, and once again served her to the toilet, let him sleep, and continued to weave the worm cage herself. The years have been like this every day.
If it weren't for the writing of Qingbingwei, can we see that this is a killer with high martial arts? Don't see it, these samurai are like ordinary men in life, they also need to buy vegetables, cook, take care of their wives, and earn money to support their families. They are filled with a thick pyrotechnic atmosphere, just like most of life.
If someone says that chinese martial arts characters should be Guo Jing and Qiao Feng, then I think Japanese martial arts characters are more like Wei Xiaobao, who does not learn any techniques and stays on the surface of life.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >02, extraordinary martial arts, ordinary life, not necessarily the hero of the country, but the pillar of the family</h1>
For some reason, when I watch "Dusk Qingbing Guard", I always think of a character: Wei Xiaobao. "Deer Ding Ji" is known as the pinnacle of Mr. Jin Yong' work, and it is also a work of sealing pens. Wei Xiaobao is different from other heroes, he does not know martial arts, loyalty and filial piety and righteousness are not, he is like a small on the street, which is similar to the 8 samurai in Dusk Qingbing Guard. But it is these ordinary people, their ordinary lives, but support the whole family, although not a national hero, but indeed the pride of the family.
Eight inferior samurai, ordinary but unremarkable. For example, the dusk Qingbing guard, who takes care of the sick wife every day, is too tired, doeszing off at work, and comes to the spirit as soon as dusk arrives, so it is nicknamed the dusk Qingbing guard. Raw melon and right guard door, long face white skin, chin has a depression, like an underripe melon, so nicknamed raw melon and right guard door. Wan Liu, as I get older, amnesia becomes more and more obvious, and even the names of my sons and daughters-in-law are often not remembered, because I am retired at home, there is no income, and my daughter-in-law is becoming sluggish. What's even worse is that the horse's ass is very internal, and the patting of the horse's ass is so obvious that everyone looks sideways, and he seems to enjoy it.
They seem to be the majority of our lives, but when their families are bullied, they are like real samurai, standing up to protect their families and confronting others head-on. Not only that, but in life, they are also facing the tempering of life on them.
Just like the dusk Qingbing guard, there are sick wives in the family, and there are fewer wives in the family, and not long ago they said that they would cut their salaries. And the wife at home also makes the already poor life worse. But while still taking care of his sick wife, he tried to reduce his living expenses, eat less, and weave cages every day after work to subsidize the family in hope. Such them, although not heroes of the country, are heroes of the family.
But they have extraordinary skills.
I remember that when I encountered the enemy on the path, the Qingbing guard suddenly stopped. After standing in silence for a while, he finally put down the package and unsheathed the straps on the sheath. A man walked from the back of the temple to the road— North Claw Hanshiro. Hanshiro leaned over a little. When he was three feet apart, he drew his knife, and the Qingbing guards slowly parted their legs and stood still. Hanshiro slid up. Without a sound, the two only clashed for one round, and The North Claw Half-Fourro fell forward to the ground.
Facing the enemy is fierce and fierce, but facing the family is tender like water. For them, martial arts don't solve everything in the world. After destroying the enemy, life will always return to peace, and they can continue to hide safely in sentient beings. I suddenly understood why Japan's ninja was gradually declining, and the last ninjas were reluctant to take in apprentices. I think that after all, they still hope that "everyone will disappear", the legend will eventually disappear, and an era that can digest the legend is an era that can produce the legend.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >03, why are we moved by these 8 guards</h1>
After reading this book, the 8 Qingbing guards in it, although their personalities are different, can be touched after reading. They are not our traditional "heroes", they have not done anything to benefit the country and the people, so why do we move for them? Combined with Wei Xiaobao in "Deer Ding", let me talk about my views:
1, most people, are not heroes, we are just the majority of life
Someone once asked why Jin Yong created a character like Wei Xiaobao. Mr. Jin Yong replied: "Wuxia cannot solve all problems, most of us are not the embodiment of wuxia, we are just ordinary people. Just like Wei Xiaobao, he does not have superb martial arts, superior family lineage, he is an ordinary person in life.
Just like the Kiyobei guards, although they are samurai, they are the same as us. They also have their own troubles, their own joys and sorrows. Guo Jing and Huang Rong are too far away from us, and we can't feel their feelings, nor can we feel their love and hate.
We saw ourselves on the guards. The Qingbing Guards seem to be the epitome of us, and we see their joys and sorrows, because we have the same joys and sorrows. They are us.
2, young we had a dream, Qingbing guard is our hope and reachable goal
Li Ronghao's new song "Young and Promising" once had such a lyric:
If I had tasted regret when I was young, I would have tasted regret; money status, when I hit it, I would like to return it
When we were children, we all fantasized about being Ultraman, eager to protect the earth and protect the world in the future. But when we grow up, we find that we can't even save ourselves, so how can we protect others?
We envy The Guards because they are not only our majority, they represent more of the great people in our lives and workplaces. We envy them, we aspire to be them. They are like the Qingbing Guards, they are all ordinary people, but they are not ordinary people. The skills they have are something we envy, but they are also something we can have. They are our hope and attainable goal in life. We were all once Wei Xiaobao, but we longed to become Chen Jinnan.
3, in life, there is not only bitterness, but also sweetness and hope, do not immerse yourself in suffering, but also pay more attention to the beauty in life
When describing the hardships in life, "Dusk Guards" also has a lot of daily beauty in life: chatting with his wife when weaving bamboo cages; having a lovely daughter at home, holding her daughter's hand to buy vegetables; dusk oblique photos, family warm dinner and happy times, these are small blessings in life.
It is undeniable that the life of the Qing guards is indeed very poor, and life has been severely testing them. But while being harsh, we can also see the beauty of life. I couldn't help but think of Bao Li's suicide not long ago, and it was undeniable that her boyfriend was indeed a scumbag. However, while choosing to escape and give up our lives in a harsh environment, have we forgotten that there are many people in our lives who care about us?
Sometimes, we can't help but indulge in pain and complain all the time about how unfair life is to us. But we can always ignore that in life, there are also some people and some things that are silently concerned about us and silently supporting us. You know, suffering is always temporary, and life is not only suffering, but also sweetness and hope. Therefore, please look up at the people around you, the things around you, and you will find that life has never given up on you.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > concluding remarks:</h1>
The back cover of the book "Dusk Qingbing Guard" reads this sentence: "They are full of special skills, but they are safe in the fireworks of the world, and their children are long-term, indifferent to the world's storms." Forced by the situation, the moment the blade came out of the sheath, they showed the supreme style of the top master. After that, there is still a silent return to silence. ”
It's like dusk, or this profession. They were at the top, but they also had to choose to return with the development of the times. This is both the peak and the end.