Abstract The Fayan was authored by Yang Xiong, a renowned scholar of the Han Dynasty. The term “zuoru” (捽茹) in the text has been subject to diverse interpretations by scholars of earlier periods, and a definitive conclusion has yet to be reached. Upon reviewing the perspectives of previous scholars, it is evident that the root cause of the disagreement lies in the lack of harmony between the combination of “zuo” (捽) and “ru” (茹) at the lexical level. Consequently, scholars during the Qing Dynasty commenced speculating that the character 捽 in the word was a Tongjia character.
The original definition of zuo is to grasp and pull someone’s hair. In the context of lexical evolution, the term “zuo” has the potential to evolve towards a generalized meaning of “to pull out, to grasp and hold”. Nevertheless, an examination of the literature from the Pre-Qin and Han periods indicates a limited generalization of the meaning of zuo. There is only one instance in The History of the Han Dynasty where the act of zuo is not targeted towards a specific body part. This situation has persisted without change even in subsequent periods. The term “ru” has the capacity to function as both a noun and a verb. Hence, there are two perspectives regarding the structure of zuoru: the verb-object structure and the parallel structure.
Zuoru is an allusion word. According to the traditional perspective, danpiao (箪瓢) and zuoru are believed to have originated from the same allusion to the deeds of Yan Yuan as documented in the Analects of Confucius. In this paper, a new perspective is proposed: danpiao zuoru (箪瓢捽茹) is actually comprised of two allusions, with danpiao originating from The Analects of Confucius, and zuoru from The Works of Mencius. The term “zuoru” serves as an alternative expression for “rucao” (茹草). This observation can be illustrated by analyzing the ideological content present in the text of the Fayan. The primary theme of this passage in Fayan is the unwavering moral character of Yan Yuan, who remained steadfast in his convictions regardless of his financial status. Yan Yuan led a life of destitution, yet he was perceived to possess the same virtues as Shun. The two men are frequently compared by people.
The transformation of rucao into zuoru is a crucial link. There is only one instance documented in the literature of the Qin and Han dynasties where the target of the zuo action is not the human body, but rather the weeds. The minor distinction lies in the fact that the “cao” (草) mentioned in The Works of Mencius refers to wild and edible vegetation. The term “rucao” refers to the act of consuming wild vegetables, while “zuoru” denotes the action of gathering and consuming wild vegetables. Essentially, the two terms have the same meaning. The term “ru” (茹) typically denotes cultivated vegetables, while “zuo” conveys the idea of “grass”. Therefore, “zuoru” specifically denotes the gathering of wild vegetables, as opposed to cultivated ones. The brilliance of Yang Xiong’s use of words is evident in this context.
This paper also examines the utilization of zuoru as an allusion word in subsequent generations. Based on the literature, it appears that this term has not been utilized for nearly a millennium. The usage of this word by literati began during the Song Dynasty, coinciding with the increased value placed on the Fayan. Sima Guang, a renowned scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, expressed great admiration for Yang Xiong and undertook the compilation of a book titled Fayan jizhu.
By examining the historical trajectory of the emergence and decline of the allusion word zuoru, three primary insights are gleaned. Firstly, the allusion word is intricately linked to literature, and its impact has fluctuated across different periods. The heightened influence of literature serves as a significant external catalyst in the development of allusion words. Secondly, a crucial internal factor that influences the popularity of words is rooted in the language itself, specifically in the clarity of semantic meaning. Ambiguity in semantic meaning and lack of clarity in structure can have a detrimental impact on the usage and reception of allusive language. Furthermore, the investigation of the historical development of the Chinese language encompasses the analysis of the origins and obsolescence of lexical items. This task encompasses not only ascertaining the time of their inception and discontinuation, but also comprehending the factors contributing to their establishment and wane.
