A comparison between Su Shi and Lu You: with a focus on the perception of filial piety, taxation, and divinity (4/2024, Video & Summary)

The HKBU Mr. Simon Suen and Mrs. Mary Suen Sino-Humanitas Institute is very honoured to invite Professor Asami Yoji, Professor, Division of Humanities, Graduate School of Humanities of Osaka University, Japan, to visit HKBU to serve as University Fellow. During his visit from April to May 2024, he will conduct two public lectures, and a seminar for post-doctoral fellows and postgraduates. These will be precious learning opportunities for HKBU students, the local academia and local citizens. All are welcome to participate. Details of Second Lecture are as follows:

A comparison between Su Shi and Lu You: with a focus on the perception of filial piety, taxation, and divinity

Organizers: HKBU Mr. Simon Suen and Mrs. Mary Suen Sino-Humanitas Institute, Institute of Creativity
Date: 19 April 2024, Friday
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Venue: Level 7, Shaw Tower, Hong Kong Baptist University (SWT702)
Speaker: Prof. Asami Yoji (Professor, Division of Humanities, Graduate School of Humanities, Osaka University; University Fellow of Hong Kong Baptist University)
Moderator: Prof. Zhang Hongsheng (Director of Mr. Simon Suen and Mrs. Mary Suen Sino-Humanitas Institute, Chair Professor of Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University)
Language: Mandarin

Summary:
此次講座以「蘇軾陸游比較論——以對孝、稅及天的認識為中心」為題,淺見教授正在進行日本的比較研究,將兩位代表性文人的作品進行比較,探討其中如何表現孝、稅、天等議題。以蘇軾的《六月二十日夜渡海》和陸游的《初離興元》為例,對比兩位詩人的作品顯示出陸游對蘇軾詩歌的繼承。
主要從以下幾點闡發:首先,淺見洋二教授在強調了中國文化中「孝」的重要性,通過分析蘇軾和陸游的詩歌作品,展示了中國詩歌中對「孝」觀念的多樣表達。陸游的作品,如《寒食省九里大墓》和《生日子聿作五字詩十首為壽追懷先親泫然有作》,表現了對父母的敬慕與感激。淺見教授指出,在中國詩歌中描述父子相處的情景最早由陶淵明開始,而隨後的詩人如杜甫等則紛紛延續這一主題。在白居易之後,蘇軾與陸游的詩歌中這類描寫逐漸增多。陸游和蘇軾的詩歌中都表現出了對家庭、血脈傳承的關注。陸游的詩歌如《燕堂春夜》《白髮》《睡覺聞兒子讀書》《初冬雜詠八首》等,表現了在父親身旁讀書的孩子最終成長為守護著孩子讀書的父親,這種父子之間關係的傳承還在不斷重複著,血脈的傳承支撐著「孝」的道德觀念。在蘇軾的詩歌中也有此類作品,如《和陶郭主簿二首並引》。淺見教授認為,這種血脈傳承是「孝」觀念得以超越世代的重要基礎。同時,淺見教授也強調了陸游和蘇軾對「孝」的不同理解。陸游將「孝」與農業為本的儒家思想相結合,熱衷於《孝經》,把講《孝經》寫進詩中,同時與報國報恩的意識緊密相連。而蘇軾的「孝」更具有超俗的特點,在對血脈傳承的書寫之外,還表現出對這一框架的掙脫,這顯然與陸游固守「孝」的傳統有所區別。對此,淺見教授指出這可能與蘇軾生活缺少穩定的共同體有關。對於蘇軾來說,國家、鄉村甚至家庭都不是以一種完整的形式存在,這意味著其保持「孝」這一觀念的社會條件被剝奪。而蘇軾自由奔放的思想背後,也可能纏繞著缺失自身存在基礎的一種苦澀和悲哀。淺見教授通過對這兩位詩人作品的深入解讀,展現了他們對「孝」觀念的不同理解和表現,從而豐富了文學史與思想史的研究。其次,聯繫到孝與稅之間的關係,陸游非常重視主動納稅,他是鄉紳階層社會的代表之一,深深扎根於鄉村生活並感到自豪。作為地主,他充分履行了納稅的責任。在陸游的詩歌中,陸游非常負責任地完成納稅任務,與現代人的態度截然不同。現代人可能不願意納稅,但對於當時的士大夫或鄉紳來說,納稅是一件令人驕傲的事情。相比之下,蘇軾並非納稅人,他的詩歌幾乎沒有反映自己繳納稅款的情景。蘇軾並非納稅者,也不是鄉紳。而陸游則是納稅者,同時也是鄉紳。最後,淺見老師特別關注蘇軾和陸游詩歌中的「造物遺漏」和「天公遺棄」的概念。陸游是田園中安享晚年長壽的老人,蘇軾卻不是。在「天公遺棄」的社會中,陸游能夠成為那種享受天然安寧生活的長壽者。對蘇軾來說,這只是一個羨慕的對象,他本人無法成為那樣的存在。淺見教授目前正在研究蘇軾與陸游詩歌中關於「稅」與「天」的主題,這為我們提供了豐富的思考空間和靈感。另外,有關「孝」的論文已經刊登在《中國詩學研究》第二十三輯,供大家參考。
(Recorded by Zhou Shaowen, SHI Mphil student)

With authorization from the speaker, video of the lecture is now available on the HKBU Library website:
https://hkbutube.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/inner.php?id=BTS-101151

About Prof. Asami Yoji: https://rd.iai.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/3ebdcc111c23139a.html

Guest speaker Prof. Asami Yoji (centre) takes a photo with Dr. Chen Zhang (left), Assistant Professor of Department of Chinese Language and Literature, HKBU and Prof. Hongsheng Zhang (right), Director of the Institute.

Click to know more about other presentations by Prof. Asami Yoji:
First Lecture: Youli and Wuyi: On Images of Wind and Water in Chinese Poetics: https://shi.hkbu.edu.hk/en/youli-and-wuyi/
Seminar: On Hui Hong’s Connection with Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and the Poetics of Jiangxi School of Poetry: https://shi.hkbu.edu.hk/en/research-seminar-by-prof-asami-yoji-4-2024-summary/

The visiting scheme is sponsored by Hung Hin Shiu Charitable Foundation.