Elders call younger generations "brothers" and "brothers", but the difference between them is often ignored| Liu Cong

Mr. Wu Xiaoru pointed out in "Calling "Brother" and "Brother" and "Brother" that "Brother" and "Brother" are both the names of the division commanders for the younger generations, "this is the modesty of the older generation of scholars, but it also belongs to a practice." Mr. Wu also gave many examples, such as Lu Xun calling his student Xu Guangping "Brother Guangping", and Wu's teachers Zhou Zuoren and Shen Congwen calling Wu "Little Brother"... It can be seen that among the scholars of the "May Fourth" generation, such a custom of titles is still common.

However, the elders call the younger generations "brothers" and "brothers", and the differences between them are often overlooked. Looking at the example of Mr. Pu Jiangqing given by Wu Wen, it is very interesting:

In the early 1950s, I once worked as an assistant to Mr. Pu Jiangqing, but I was not a disciple of Mr. Pu Jiangqing. Elder Pu was very polite in his title, and when he published the Anthology of Du Fu's Poems and asked me to give me a copy, he took a great deal of consideration in the inscription and consulted with me. Elder Pu said, "You are not my student, we are just colleagues of different ages. I have given you a book, and it is supposed to be written 'Little As Brother'; but you are now my assistant, and you are also half a student, and it seems strange to write too politely. How do you think the question is good? I replied, "I am your student now, and you must not be polite to me." Finally, mr. Li wrote: "Little as a student Save refers to the fallacy, Jiang Qing." "I still treasure this book in my possession...

It seems that there are also times when calling the younger generations "brothers" is not appropriate. Calling him "brother", as Mr. Pu Jiangqing said, "too polite but strange.". Although this title is modest, over time, it is not without the title of an elder, and a slightly arrogant taste. Elders generally refer to the younger generations who are relatively unfamiliar or have a huge difference in age and status, and they are mostly called "brothers", in addition to being polite, they actually have the meaning of self-respect. The title "brother" is true and humble, and is generally used for disciples or juniors who are extremely familiar with or valued, which is not without affection or expectation.

Let me give you an example. Chen Julai's "Trivia of Anzhi Characters" records that Zhou Yiping only recognized Miao Zibin and Lin Tiezun as disciples, but zhao Shuyong and Chen Meng'an, who came to learn words, thought that "they are not worthy of being my students." Because I was extremely poor, I had to smile bitterly when I saw that I was fifteen hundred yuan a year..." Chen Julai recalled: "Whenever the Gong Gong wrote to the two of them, he would be honored as 'Your Excellency Brother Ren'; after liberation, Yu received a handwritten letter from Miao Zibin, all of whom were called 'Ren Brother'. "Here the contrast and view, it is more clear, although "brother" is an honorific title, it lacks the meaning of affection, and it is not without the taste of respect and distance. Therefore, "Brother Ren" is used to call Zhao and Chen who are "unworthy of being my students", while "Brother Ren" is specifically called Miao Zibin, a disciple who entered the room. The difference between relatives and estrangement in the meantime can be seen.

Let me give you another example. Xie Guozhen's "Title Mr. Wang Guowei's Book Fan Face Extinction Book Relics" Yun: "When Mr. Wang Guowei wrote the fan, after the name of the zhen, it was mistakenly written as 'brother'. On this day, after Mr. Went to the Summer Palace, he returned to the campus office and used ink to change the word 'brother' to 'brother', and then entered the Summer Palace fish algae Xuan before the effect of the water stopping festival to sink himself. Therefore, it can be seen that Mr. Wang has a strong and stoic will, a calm and serene attitude, and a scrupulous attitude. At that time, Xie Guozhen was a student of the Tsinghua Institute of Chinese Studies, and Wang Guowei was the tutor of the institute. Although it is not impossible for the teacher to call the student "brother" as "brother", it is obvious that Wang Guowei before throwing water still feels that it is not appropriate to call the disciple Xie Guozhen "Brother Ren", only the title of "Brother Ren" is more appropriate. It can be seen that the difference of one word is a big matter. Since the "intransigence" of the kingdom before the sinking, it can also be seen that the older scholars are exquisite in symmetry.

Here, we may wish to make another comparison, look at Gu Jiegang at that time, he said in a letter to Wang Guowei: "Selfish fists, want to have some karma, if you do not give up, xu is attached to the list of disciples, Gang Zhi is fortunate." However, Wang Guowei was not interested in it, and when he replied to the letter, he still honored Gu as "Your Excellency, Brother Jiegangren", and there was obviously more alienation in his politeness. It may be said that the difference between "benevolent brother" and "benevolent brother" is actually the difference in Wang Guowei's attitude toward Xie and Gu and the recognition of the disciple's identity.

So, can the title of "benevolent disciple" only be used for disciples? Try to read Mr. Liu Yongxiang's "Also Distant Mu Deng Linxia", talking about the author's interaction with the predecessor scholar Deng Guangming. In his letter to Liu Yongxiang, Deng Guangming changed his title from "Professor Yongxiang" to "Yongxiang Rendi". Mr. Liu explained: "'Brother Ren' is used by the teacher to call the disciple, which shows that Mr. Gongsan has regarded me as a protégé. In fact, although "Rendi" often comes to call the disciples of the disciples, it is not necessary to use it for the younger generations who are closely related. The author has at hand a copy of the "Nineteen Songs of Song Ci" published by the Enlightened Bookstore in 1933, which is a photocopy of the nineteen Song Poems of Wang Pengyun for the photocopy of the Duanmu Book. At the end of the book, Yun: "Young Xia Ren Di Qing play." Duanmu was more than thirty years older than Wang Pengyun, and Wang Pengyun's filler words had also been deeply influenced by Duanmuyun, but the two had been in contact for many years, and although they were colleagues in the Zhongshu Cabinet, they had no master-disciple relationship. Wang Pengyun called Duanmuyun "Domain Zhang" as a sign of respect, while Duanmuyun called Wang Pengyun "Youxia Rendi" to show kindness ("棣" tong "brother").

It can be said that calling "brother" and "brother" have different emotional tastes, but today's people often do not distinguish between them. Recently read Mr. Huang's "Teachers and Students "Call Brothers and Brothers" (published in the "PEN" edition on October 22, 2020), it is also said that "calling brothers and brothers" is a common practice of people in the new culture since the "May Fourth", and the author also likes the cordial, friendly and equal feelings conveyed when calling "brothers". But in fact, "calling brothers and brothers" to the younger generations is a tradition that has gradually formed since the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it embodies the spirit of humility and respect for others in China's title culture. Moreover, cultural people who pay more attention to titles will pay special attention to the difference between "brother" and "brother" to avoid the estrangement and arrogance conveyed when calling the younger generation "brother".

In addition, in addition to the relationship between teachers and students, the elders' titles to the younger generations are often divided into "young brothers", "in-laws", "world brothers", "township brothers", etc. according to different friendships, and self-proclaimed as "young brothers", "in-laws", "world brothers", "township brothers" and so on. And such a name also contains the meaning of self-respect identity. In 1942, wentong Books published the Guide to Reward Literature and Art (by Zhang Hongyou), which said: "Friends can be called 'brothers'. Sometimes the more neglected elders are also called 'brothers' because of their self-effacing... For example, 'in-laws', 'worldly brothers', 'foolish brothers', etc., are all 'in-laws', 'world elders' and elders, and the humble names for 'late marriage', 'late marriage', 'late world' and young people are also called. ”

Here again is mentioned a title that is often debated - "foolish brother". According to the word "foolish", there is no sense of pride, but when combined with "brother", it gradually becomes the self-designation of the superior to the humble. Especially in the official field of the Qing Dynasty, "Foolish Brother" also called himself a subordinate as a superior for a long time. Of course, it is also occasionally seen in ordinary generations, but those who use this often have self-esteem or self-respect. In this regard, not to say that today's readers will feel at a loss, even the older generation of cultural people often misunderstand.

For example, in "A Dream Of Micro Births", Mr. Shu Xiao once quoted a letter from the old man yu Fan of Quyuan garden to Mao Heting: "Brother Ren of Heting ... Foolish brother Yu Yu dunshou. He also explained: "'Brother Benevolent' is an honorific title for his peers... Calling himself 'Foolish Brother' is more modest..." At that time, the old man of Quyuan was already a generation of Masters of Pu Xue, and he was more than fifty years old, and his teeth were both dignified. Calling themselves "foolish brothers" to the younger generations is obviously a self-esteem, which implies a self-respecting identity. Where can it be said to be "more humble"?

In the "Guide to Reward Literature and Art", you also said: "The word 'fool' is the word of humility and humility of the elderly... The so-called elders and high morals can be humbled. And those who are humble and young, for the respect of the elders is foolish, why should they be humble..." This explanation is not unreasonable. However, in addition to reason and logic, the way of appellation often has another side of convention. Nor can the word "foolish" be generalized. A recent reading of Mr. Han Liping's "Gossip of "Foolish Brother" (published in the "PEN" edition on December 27, 2020) has pointed out that although "Foolish Brother" is a modest term for the younger generation, it is occasionally seen in the same generation. This conclusion is good. However, the article gives several examples of "nian yudi" to prove that "foolish brother", but it is quite inappropriate.

According to "Nian YuDi" ("Shi Yu Brother", "Marriage Foolish Brother", "Township Foolish Brother", etc.), it is a commonly used title among ordinary generations, and it is completely different from "Foolish Brother". According to the custom since the Ming and Qing dynasties, if there are young friends who are raised in the same department or enter the soldiers, it is advisable to call each other "Benevolent Brother Nian Ren" (or "Benevolent Brother Old Year Old Year") when sending a letter, and the payment is signed "Nian Yu Brother". For the sons and nephews of the same year, they can be called "nian brothers" and call themselves "nian brothers". That is to say, "Nian Brother" and "Foolish Brother", like "Foolish Brother", are both titles for the elder and humble children, but "Nian Yudi" is different, according to the custom, it is a modest title among ordinary generations.

Li Boqi, the former master of the family, "Answering the Question of Mr. Lingxi's Title" (Social Daily, March 10, 1943) also said: "If you call 'foolish brother' proud, if you are titled with the words 'world', 'marriage', 'year', 'township', etc., you can't go to the word 'foolish'." For example, 'marriage foolish brother' is also called flat, and the word 'foolish' is only 'in-law' is proud, but the name of the long to the lowly... But to call friendship plus the word 'foolish' is humble, and the bald man is proud to call 'foolish'. The so-called "friendship plus the word 'foolish' is humble" means that "the foolish brother of the world", "the foolish brother of marriage", "the foolish brother of the year", "the foolish brother of the township", etc., are all modest titles among the peers; and "the bald man calls 'foolish' proud" means that "foolish brother" means that "foolish brother" implies pride, which is the self-designation of the elders to the younger generations.

Of course, in order to avoid arrogance, the elders can also use modest titles such as "foolish brother" and "marriage foolish brother" when calling themselves juniors, which is a courtesy to imitate the common generation. Or, directly call the younger generation "Shi Ren Brother", "Marriage Brother", etc., and call themselves "Shi Yu Brother" and "Marriage Fool Brother". This is exactly the same as the relationship between the master and the disciple, which is to regard the more valued juniors as peers, reflecting the friendly and cordial attitude of the elders.

Author: Liu Cong

Editors: Andy, Qian Yutong