Growth in Traditional Culture —— Comment on Li Yi's Children's Literature Ophiopogon japonicus

Yi Lee, a powerful writer of children's literature in Shaanxi, whose real name is Li Yan, has published many children's literature works before. Since last year, she has started publishing works under the pseudonym "Li Yi". Recently, 2 1 century publishing group published Yi Lee's children's literature Ophiopogon japonicus, which is a unique work. Although the title is "Maidong", it describes two teenagers-Maidong and Du Heng, who are deeply influenced by China's excellent traditional culture and gain the power to advance.

Under the package of affection and friendship, under the guidance of example strength and under the influence of traditional culture, the two teenagers found their way forward in the fog of life. Like most teenagers, they are not talented players in learning, but they are different from most teenagers and have their own ambitions: Du Heng likes traditional crafts such as rolling noodles and making pigeon whistle, and his hands-on ability is outstanding; Ophiopogon japonicus has a strong interest in Chinese medicine. They are also luckier than most children, with tolerant and enlightened parents guarding their fragile dreams. More importantly, under the selfless guidance of Grandpa Bolebai and Grandpa He of the older generation, they kept searching and finally found what they wanted. The whole story is based on four seasons. In the changes of four seasons, children's psychological changes are hidden in spring, summer, autumn and winter. In the growth of each season, they all ushered in the spring of life. The scenery they saw, what happened and what they felt in the season provided natural and artificial impetus for the transformation of Ophiopogon japonicus and Du Heng, and finally they were suddenly enlightened when they met the future.

One, the four seasons change, looking for the spring of growth

The whole novel consists of four parts: Pinellia ternata, autumn scissors, honeysuckle and Spring Festival, which changes the familiar cycle of four seasons. This arrangement of the author actually alludes to the physical and mental growth and changes of the two young protagonists, Ophiopogon japonicus and Du Heng, and the spring when everything recovers is actually a portrayal of their spiritual awakening.

The whole growth-oriented novel is not limited to the change of one person and one thing. At first, Ophiopogon japonicus was lonely. He often plays with silent shadows and always "stands alone in front of Grandpa's shop", casting a hand shadow on the mottled white powder wall, which is quite self-pity. However, after meeting Du Heng with a cheerful personality, he became lively and regained his real vitality as a group of human beings and carefree children. Although Ophiopogon japonicus was born in a family full of Chinese medicine, as he himself said, "I am not interested in Chinese medicine." As for learning, he never seems to find a way to learn successfully. Even if he fails in the exam again, he will just change the paper and take out the comic book. Fortunately, however, Ophiopogon japonicus was helped by Dr. Bai mustard before birth, and met a rescuer when he went up the mountain to visit Cornus officinalis during the autumn harvest season. It can be said that the transformation of Ophiopogon japonicus started from this encounter, and it can be clearly found in the plot of simulated diagnosis for his classmate Shi Siming. Later, Dr. Bai moved to the house of Ophiopogon japonicus, set an example and handed over the task of sorting out books to Ophiopogon japonicus, which actually contributed to the final transformation of Ophiopogon japonicus. Under the influence of white mustard seed's medical skill and moral character, Ophiopogon japonicus has changed from a immature and confused child to a "flower in bud". With the change of seasons, it is not only its ideal positioning, but also its "kindness" has quietly solidified in its heart. Kindness is the scaffold for every child to thrive.

Ruthlessness is not Du Heng's true feeling. On the contrary, his openness to hypocrisy highlights his concern for achievements, and his clear understanding of shortcomings and advantages also shows his wisdom and maturity different from that of ordinary children. Compared with the initial confusion of Ophiopogon japonicus, although Du Heng also suffers from poor academic performance, he has always had a clear grasp of what he likes to do and what he is good at. Therefore, Du Heng's growth is mainly reflected in his slowly getting rid of the pain of poor reading, and generously admitting and pursuing his own interests. In the process of self-exploration, he gradually accepted the reality of mediocre learning, and accepted that the standard of success is not only the truth of "being admitted to a university", fame and dust, but also the uncertainty of success in the modern sense. In this consciousness, he gradually took dough and pigeon whistle as the direction of polishing and progress. Grandpa He's careful guidance and cordial assistance finally broke through the cage of "success" in the traditional sense. Du Heng is not a victim of the shackles of "reading only high". Compared with blindly insisting on learning, he is a warrior who breaks the shackles and a lucky one who finds true love.

Li Yi arranged the growth process of two protagonists with the structure of double-thread spiral interweaving, one was Ophiopogon japonicus and the other was Du Heng's organization, which made the changes of the protagonists in the whole novel more vivid, tangible and clear. On the other hand, the changes are mutual. Every time the season starts again, there will be a loving interaction between two people. Because you and I complement each other and eventually grow together. The author interprets the inseparable interpersonal relationship by overlapping and stripping. For children, the friendship between partners plays an inestimable role in their vigorous growth. The screenwriter must be "immersed in the children's spiritual world and closely connected with the children's spirit" to make such elaborate arrangements.

Second, family, create a growing environment

Psychology believes that "the strongest emotion experienced in childhood will inevitably become the emotion we often have in adulthood", and the family environment shapes children's self-state, which can be divided into healthy natural children and unhealthy adaptive children. The family environment constructed by Li Yi in his novels is particularly harmonious. Both Ophiopogon japonicus and Du Heng, regardless of their grades, are cared for by their parents, grandparents and strangers, and finally form their natural state, which is the driving force for them to find their growth direction.

The scores of Ophiopogon japonicus and Du Heng who failed all the year round led to "post-traumatic stress disorder" in their signatures. In reality, most parents will continue the high-pressure policy and force their children to continue to study hard. Children often have great resistance to learning because of mental stress. However, Li Yi's uncharacteristic behavior made Ophiopogon japonicus' parents undergo an amazing, strange and "transsexual" change, and Ophiopogon japonicus' parents did not criticize Ophiopogon japonicus as always. Instead, he jokingly ignored it. My father even took out books on traditional Chinese medicine, studied hard and wanted to enter the university of traditional Chinese medicine. At the same time, he used the example of white mustard seed to subtly "correct" Ophiopogon japonicus. In contrast, this method is not only mild, but also more effective. Ophiopogon japonicus constantly spurs itself under this soft education. Yi Lee's arrangement seems to be an appeal: coercion is not the right way to solve the problem. What whiteboard children need most is the influence of role models, not brute force. Du Heng's grandmother knew that her grandson didn't study very well, but she didn't expose her weakness. On the contrary, she constantly affirmed Du Heng's skill in making noodles. Although grandpa will mention the embarrassing thing of failing the exam, when Grandpa He praises his cleverness, he "forgets to find out the cause and effect, and only feels a sense of pride coming from his stomach".

People are the product of the environment, and children in the early stage of physical and mental development are more likely to change with the changes of the environment. Family largely determines a child's character. Author Li Yi described the harmonious and warm atmosphere of two families with warm brushstrokes. In her works, she describes every typical old man who takes care of children in China's family. In a warm home, children's temperament, happiness and interest are fully respected and protected. Parents abandoned the concept of score theory and let their children develop in a natural state, but let themselves drift without indulgence. Such love nourishes the innocent, naive and healthy souls of Ophiopogon japonicus and Du Heng.

Third, traditional culture is the bowl of inheritance.

Culture is a symbol of a country's wisdom and maturity. Traditional culture has always been the eternal theme of many literary works, and it is also reflected in Ophiopogon japonicus. As time goes by, a traditional craft that once flourished will often decline or even disappear because of the cruel changes of the times, so it will be passed down from young to old and become the only prescription to cure this endangered ancient tradition. Many writers call for the rescue of traditional crafts with words as the carrier, among which Li Yi is one.

The traditional culture referred to in this paper is divided into three categories, one is Chinese medicine, the other is pigeon whistle, and the third is Hanzhong pasta. Grandma Du Heng runs a famous noodle restaurant in Hanzhong. Naturally, he has also developed a good noodle skill. Although the occupation of Du Heng's parents is not explained in the article, in any case, the noodles have a successor: looking at the small place, Du Heng took over grandma's superb craftsmanship; From the big picture, Shaanxi's pasta culture has an authentic inheritor.

After finishing primary school, Grandpa He dropped out of school and began to be a pigeon whistle. After decades of accumulation, he became a celebrity in the field of pigeon whistle technology. He personally explained the truth that "360 lines is the best", so Du Heng strengthened his inner inheritance of noodle making thought. Together, they look for reeds that are "close to the water, grow in fertile soil, and can't be crushed in their hands". Every time I make a pigeon whistle, Grandpa He strives for perfection. He "looks left and right, and always feels that it is not good enough." Grandpa He tells the story of China people's craftsmanship with his caution and rigor. Also infected by this concentration and love, he became the unknown disciple of Grandpa He in the book. The author borrows a sentence from Grandpa He: "The skill of pigeon whistle is not only mine, but also everyone's and the country's. All I can do is to support and inherit this skill and express his own love for the traditional craft itself and his hope for its enduring prosperity.

A Dream of Red Mansions is more magical and realistic because of its prophetic names, and Ophiopogon japonicus is also unique in its appellation. "Ophiopogon japonicus", "Concha Haliotidis", "Du Heng" and "Semen Sinapis Albae" all come from Chinese medicine, so the novel's name is quite red chamber. Each Chinese medicine has its own unique efficacy and attributes. Ophiopogon japonicus is sweet and Du Heng is warm, so the name of traditional Chinese medicine has a subtle connection with the temperament of the characters. The suggestion of connection takes into account the needs of image building and cultural propaganda. The author calls it a disguised pun, subtle and clear. Chinese medicine Ophiopogon japonicus, or children's Ophiopogon japonicus, are carefully cultivated by Grandpa Bai. Dongwa not only found the future direction, but also shouldered the heavy responsibility of inheriting Chinese medicine culture under his infection treatment for ordinary people.

Traditional culture is the "birthmark" of a country. If you forget your own life experience, it is hard to say that the descendants of the dragon are Chinese children. Compared with skilled craftsmen, what literati can do is often just to shout, so that the disappearing traditional culture will not be speechless in this world. Traditional Chinese medicine, pasta and pigeon whistle, which have national blood and spirit, are once again revealed in Yi Lee's works. Under the narrative told by the young and the old, Li Yi expressed her love and cherish for a national culture in words, which also implied a gushing power to awaken the subconscious mind of every compatriot to protect and inherit the culture.

Fourth, conclusion.

When the two teenagers looked at each other, the novel ended with a knowing smile. It's perfect, but it seems to be going well. The goal of life is dim, and it is often impossible to simply see the clouds. In Yi Lee's words and writing, readers can truly feel the joy of finding themselves and regaining the fun of childhood. The rational development of growth, the happiness of family and the inheritance of culture run through the whole novel. Yi Lee once said in an interview: "Everyone has his own childhood, and childhood experiences often constitute a writer's aesthetic proposition and logical origin. Different childhood stories constitute different elements of the work. " It is true that many people will be affected by childhood trauma all their lives, but Yi Lee wrote a delightful story with his rich childhood experience, which made readers be cured by the wonderful childhood in the article.

Brief introduction of the author

Tan Xudong: Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, School of Literature, Shanghai University.

Chen Jiawei: Master of Arts, Shanghai University.

Editor Jiang Meng

Proofread Wan Huafeng

Audit Fang Min

Issuer: Wang Jun