The image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig under the influence of Ming Dynasty Psychology

Pu Yao Xue Palace

If you just follow reality, do not release your desires, and take the long path without the active atmosphere of the eight precepts, it is doomed to be an endless road of death; if you just blindly stick to the mind and learn to indulge your desires, the eight precepts of the pig will undoubtedly become unscrupulous, let alone cultivate the right results.

The basis for the formation of the comedic effect of the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is inseparable from the social environment of the Ming Dynasty, especially the influence of psychological thought on the citizens at that time. "Journey to the West" was accepted by the majority of readers at that time, and it was inseparable from the sustenance of citizens on human desires under the influence of the commodity economy.

In the work, the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is the most secular, relatively close to real life, although it is a pig's body, the humanity of his body is also shining, and it is a simple and full of human desires, a romantic and realistic combination of a character.

In "Journey to the West", Sun Wukong is undoubtedly the most brilliant image, and at the same time, his assistant Pig Eight Precepts cannot be ignored. Pig Eight Precepts, also known as Pig Gang Mane, Pig Wu Neng, other names are nerd, wood mother, wood dragon, etc., the five elements belong to wood. Originally the reincarnation of marshal of the canopy, because of flirting with Chang'e, he was demoted to the netherworld and cast into a pig body by mistake, and later received guidance from the bodhisattva to protect the Tang monk Xi Tian to take the scriptures and cultivate into positive results, and was named a messenger of the pure altar.

In the work, the Eight Precepts of the Pig are typical complex characters, who are not as positive and distinct as Sun Wukong, nor are they as single-minded as the sand monks. In the ideological character of the Eight Precepts of the Pig, the explicit shortcomings and hidden advantages coexist, which is the mythological image that is closest to real life.

The birth of the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is closely related to the trend of people's yearning for ideological emancipation in the Ming Dynasty.

Under the slogan of the theologians, "Preserving Heavenly Reason, Destroying Human Desires", the citizens longed for spiritual sustenance and sought the liberation of desires. The author's Eight Precepts of the Pig have a human temperament, such as greed for money, lust, gluttony and other shortcomings, but also show his diligence, thickness, intelligence and other advantages.

Regarding the Eight Precepts of Gluttony, in the twenty-fourth time, the Eight Precepts overheard the boy beating ginseng fruit to eat, so he instigated Goku to steal a few to taste the fresh; in the ninety-sixth time, Tang Monk drank and rebuked the Eight Precepts: "You rammed goods, you only know how to eat, and it does not matter the reason for the return, it is the beast who 'eats in the groove, and rubs itch in the stomach'!" At the time of eating, "the eight precepts panicked, took the rice and took a bowl... I wrapped the bun in two sleeves before I got up with Master. ”

At the same time, the greed of the Eight Precepts is even more numerous, the most prominent one is when the Female Goblins of the Pansi Cave are bathing, and the Eight Precepts have a sudden rise. Among his shortcomings, I think his provocation of dissension is the most unbearable, that is, the pejorative "god assist", Goku's several departures are because of the incitement of the Eight Precepts of the Pig, originally Tang Monk's heart to expel Goku was not very firm, after the Eight Precepts were assisted by the god next to him, Tang Monk's hatred for Goku gradually increased.

In the thirty-sixth time in the middle of the monastery, the old monk bullied the soft and afraid of hard, and the eight precepts ridiculed the Tang monk: "Master and the boss are not helping, when you go in, you are in tears, and the oil bottle hanging on your mouth." Why was the master so wise and taught them to kowtow to pick them up? "Goku talks about the obscurity of the moon, and the Eight Precepts provoke Tang Monk, saying that if he continues to talk, he will delay sleeping.

As mentioned above, not only the Eight Precepts of the Pig, but also many of the images in journey to the West have achieved the unity of humanity, divinity and animality, and the reason for the popularity of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is inseparable from the development of mind science in the Ming Dynasty.

Ming Dynasty psychology refers to the system formed by Wang Yangming in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, following Hu Juren, Chen Xianzhang and others, to further develop the psychology of Lu Jiuyuan in the Song Dynasty. Wang Yangming believes that only the mind of the subject is the essence, and everything in the world is the product of the mind.

According to the general view, sun wukong's image shaping is the most reflective of Yang Mingxin, and his transformation from a wild monkey to a victorious Buddha who cultivates positive results embodies the view of "to conscience" of mind science, which is the embodiment of the unity of knowledge and action. But Sun Wukong expresses the advanced level of Ming Dynasty psychology, and the Eight Precepts of the Pig is a low-level level. Sun Wukong pursues an unfettered life, while the Eight Precepts of the Pig remain on the satisfaction of desires. For example, the Eight Precepts can't let go of the pursuit of money, can't let go of the love of beauty, can't resist the temptation of food, and so on.

In hyping up the study of the mind, the author is also hindered by reality. "Journey to the West" adopts a combination of romanticism and realism, pinning the desire to release on the illusory characters, but at the same time reflecting reality. For example, the Eight Precepts of the Pig have desires, but as a Buddhist disciple and abstain from sex, Tang Monk is an absolute ascetic; Sun Wukong wants to pursue freedom and liberation, but there are tight curses in it.

The contradiction between ming dynasty psychology and reality is actually a contradiction between realism and romanticism. This contradiction is reflected in the "Journey to the West" in the Eight Precepts of the Pig: if you just follow reality and do not release your desires, if you take the passage for a long time without the active atmosphere of the Eight Precepts, it is destined to be an endless road of death; if you just blindly stick to the mind and learn to indulge your desires, the Eight Precepts of the Pig will undoubtedly become unscrupulous, let alone cultivate the right results. It can be seen that the author is particularly fond of the Eight Precepts of the Pig, which also shows that the author affirms the value of psychology and affirms human desire.

The depiction of the growth process of the Eight Precepts of the Pig portrays a primary circular figure, changing the previous depiction of flat characters. In Journey to the West, the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is rich both outward and internal, and is a transition from flat characters to round characters.

For example, in terms of personality, although he is lazy, he is very diligent in his duties, he is flattering, left and right, and sometimes very sincere and firm. For example, although he said that the journey was arduous and wanted to be separated, but he stayed again and again, it was enough to see that his heart was still firm, just venting the resentment in his heart. The other three of the four masters and apprentices have a single personality in their minds in contrast to the Eight Precepts of the Pig. Compared with Sun Wukong, the Pig Eight Commandments are thick and simple, Goku is flexible and intelligent, the former is heroic and fearless, the former is a well-behaved conformist to the ruling class, and the latter is a rebel under the rule.

In general, the personality of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is complex, and Sun Wukong is mainly heroic and flexible, and the negative personality is less. Sha Monk is the lowest-existent figure among the four masters and apprentices, which is also because of his single personality and belongs to the inaction of the bystanders. The Tang monks, mainly good and firm in sincerity, were the most devout believers under the influence of Ming Dynasty psychology. On the whole, the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig is more plump, making people love and longing, and is the product of a successful combination of romanticism and realism.

All in all, the image of the Eight Precepts of the Pig reflects the desires of the world that are difficult to conceal or express under the influence of the commodity economy, and also reflects the weakness of the citizens, that is, the inferiority of Mr. Lu Xun. The maturity of the Ming Dynasty psychology gave birth to romantic works, the image of the eight precepts of the pig is actually virtual in the real, the real is in the virtual, in such a typical environment, after the tribulations of the eight precepts of the pig is constantly improving, which is also advocated by the psychologists "to the conscience", "the unity of knowledge and action".

So in the end, when the Eight Precepts of the Pig were crowned as the messengers of the Pure Altar, did they achieve the highest realm of mind science? I don't think so, but the Buddha explained that the altar messenger was a useful official position, and this was based on satisfying his personal desires. The Buddhists preached that all sentient beings, from self-realization to social realization, no longer stuck to their own small world, in the "Journey to the West", Tang Monk and Wukong have their own lofty ideals, after learning from the scriptures and tempering them to reach the highest state of mind learning.

Among the three disciples, the Eight Precepts of the Pig were also the most popular among the Tang monks, and the Eight Precepts of the Pig once said, "Master often hurts me and loves me, and reads me foolishly to protect me." In many things, the Tang monks were partial to the Eight Precepts of the Pig, which also benefited from the flexible personality of the Eight Precepts, which contrasted with the upright and upright personality of Sun Xing, and also meant that rebellious rebels were not valued by the rulers.

In short, under the influence of the Ming Dynasty's Psychology, journey to the West writes in the form of myths that Buddhists have succeeded through 9981 difficulties, which means that people should strengthen their faith in the pursuit of ideals, even if they have many shortcomings like the Eight Precepts of pigs, they must constantly improve themselves in suffering.

Although the Eight Precepts of the Pig under the influence of mind science are indulgent, they are also bound by the Dharma, Tang monks, and Wukong, so there is no complete freedom, there is no absolute indulgence of human desires, and everything is limited, which is also an obstacle to the development of mind science. Although the inferiority of the Eight Precepts of the Pig has not been eradicated, it has been greatly changed, and the transformation of his thinking and personality also indicates the success of the portrayal of circular characters, the opposition between beauty and ugliness, and the role of progressive significance.

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