"Epic" is not a product of the traditional Chinese culture, according to research, it comes from Europe, is the Greek word "Epic", original intention is to "speak" and "narrative".Because habits down and speak in narrative composition, with the word written in verse about ancient heroThe warAnd adventure story narrative, a poem in the history of the contain.India is the literal meaning of the word "epic", said "the past", namely, historical legends, here is the "epic" is actually the ancient epic, which mainly about hero flavor.Narrative focus on the history of the legendary one tribe, the fate of a nation or a race of heroes or demigod figures, focus on praising their heroism, to long-term memory of their glorious name, which inspire future generations.Starting with oral tradition, by the poet, scholar after finishing.As people's understanding of epic studies and is constantly expanding, earlier than heroic epic produce the myth of the epic is also included in the field of vision of scholars.It shows the national pimitive period of god cult and conquest of nature, the myth color too strong.Is its essence based on myths and legends, myths and legends in the spread and development of folk, the characters and legends describe more specific, vivid.I thought comparison, ancient India two epic "mahabharata" myth epic colour is a bit thick, and the ramayana epic color more strong, this may be "mahabharata" was known as the "historical legends", and the ramayana is referred to as "the original poem," one of the reasons.Myth epic and heroic epic has a limit of time and space beyond reality, including the characteristics of the myths and legends and historical legends, embodies the spirit of human primitive thinking from myth to epic continuity of the idea.If we admit that the overwhelming majority of scholars agree that the Indian epic "mahabharata" creation "the earliest age is in the later stages of the vedic literature, namely the 10th century BC, and it's late period is in the fifth century A.D." [1], it is said that "the mahabharata" is in 1500 years or so to complete the transition from myth epic to epic add or delete.

Epic or often in myths and legends about important historical events, is the representation of national spirit.The ancient epic poem generally have a wide range of narrative nature and profound social, historical and cultural significance.Epic space, therefore, is very long, grand complex structure, lofty solemn great serious theme, style, change, full of fantasy and magical color.Only in this way can the art characteristics of the full performance of all ethnic groups in the symbol of the tribe or nation hero, how persistence in the heroic spirit and industrious hands to create the miracle of the world, and in the struggle with nature and society first victory.It also reflects the epic "mahabharata" as the characteristics of the myths and legends and historical legends.And the author of the generation after generation with rich imagination and superb narrative skills, to spread and art processing of these legends, form relatively complete system of literary texts, and make these narrative has the entertaining and educational, make its aesthetic value beyond the boundaries of time and space, reality "mahabharata" has the possibility of all its produce.

a

This epic "mahabharata" title means great peoples of Borneo is India's national story.The center of the epic describes occurred in ancient India all Lou clan battle for the throne and the pandavas for a major war.Reflects the society at that time close long will points, long period of division, is the general trend of thought.India's most ancient poetry collection of the rig Veda mentioned warlike peoples of Borneo, followed by "brahmana" mentioned all Lou clan is a branch of many peoples of Borneo, however, only in the wave of dian (2nd century BC) of which the "big drain" to explicitly specify the burden between the lu clan and pandavas war stories.Though it was lack of sufficient evidence, but the general scholars tend to think that this war is a historical fact.Mr Ji, editor of the ancient literature of India, "also said:" it should be said that the heroic epic is the nations India disputes and empire unified artistic reflection of The Times."[2] the truth is that this has a basis in historical epic "mahabharata", after a long artistic processing, has been legends and myths.

India's ancient social reality is the epic "mahabharata" soil and the mother's womb.German famous pundits, winter has in regard to India's national epic big once pointed out: "we from yajurveda and Vatican has learned in the book, all the lu clan land is Lu Zhiye, all together within the Lou royal family led to a disputebleedingWar, this is a real devastating war.In war, the ancient luo tribe, and even whole suoluo more nearly destroys the family.We may be able to see the story of the bloody battle as a historical events, and we just learn from "mahabharata" inside it.Described the war on the the folk poetry, a name has already been buried in the great poet put these poems into a hero, singing all Lu Zhiye great war."[3] this "heroic" mantra that early myth epic is a sign that the transition to a heroic epic, is a prelude to epics, sometimes the carols "hero" as entertainment gods reciting words.In the brahmana and fete ceremony literature shows that in the sacrificial ceremony and family festival activity, singing this kind of narrative poem is a part of religious ceremonies, inevitably will clip wrapped in many religious culture content.These heroes carol told is often referred to as "su" the song man.Not only could they not sing in such a narrative songs to celebrate the king's honor, but also often to the battlefield, acura warriors heroic deeds, for example, in "the mahabharata," the song man wins for ten car king vividly describes the battlefield situation.These the song man formed the word of mouth, teacher and pupil gives style of traditional, done some singers sifang, will these poems to recite down and play the harp and singing in public, and praise the hero by gradually evolved into a myth epic hero epics in the civil widely circulated, and the more long, constantly supplement and the size of the form now.

Modern astronomers tagore India in regard to the image of the "historical novel" had pointed out: "there was a period of time, the ramayana and the mahabharata" is a history, but modern history very awkward to admit that he still has a genetic relationship with it.History says, because with poetry, it vanished family.Now to save the family is so difficult, others can only know it in the form of poetry of the family.Poetry, history is your brothers, your internal mixing with many false, and there are many within my true.Therefore, let's exchanges like before.History says, no, brother, or their respective regime as well.So learned measure land officials and assign the regime to work everywhere, he is ready to differentiate between real and ideal kingdom a clear dividing line."[4] although the tone of tagore crafted, playfully, but it will be an epic "mahabharata" in history and the real duality and contradiction revealed clearly, let people still have to think deeply about.

Tagore for di Nash, jean DE la Seine, Mr Rama story book in sequence, the two great epics of aesthetic qualities are analyzed, and profoundly pointed out: "the ramayana and the mahabharata" can not only be called epic, they're history.Because they are not dynasty alternate history, the history of depends on the specific time.The ramayana and the mahabharata "is the all India in the history of the eternal.Its historical value in all times have changed, but the value of the history without any change, practice and intention of the all India won the eternity in the two poems palace throne."[5] India's modern famous writer Salem chang DE in regard to "literature" in the position in life that is the social problems of literature profoundly pointed out: "now is not the age of the ramayana and the mahabharata time has passed, but the work is still new."The reason is that: "in the history of literature is true because literature has its own country and the pictures of The Times, and you won't have in the history of the hollow."[6] his words clear indication of literature as an epic "mahabharata" historic and its value and significance.

The second

Very few official history books in ancient India, history and biography also completely by poem made up above, and as category in the narrative, so difficult to form a revisionist history tradition.This is because the ancient indians born pursuit of life, life is mainly divided into learning way, house, forest, becoming a monk in four stages, the common pursuit of the birth of psychology, make them indifferent to fame and wealth, neither attaches great importance to the history, also do not attach importance to the secular life, the book is not attach importance to its authenticity, there are few related records handed down, therefore "mahabharata" formed the historical background of the fuzzy date, author, hard to textual research, produce s lack of reliable text uncertain factors such as material evidence.In this case, the ancient India is impossible to form like China tradition of compilation.But for the puranas that the myth of traditional assembly is showing the enthusiasm of the code, so that tradition.So-called "purana" can also be translated as "ancient catalogue", a total of 18.Which first appeared in BC, late in the 10th century, some haven't finalize the design to the seventeen century, by constantly enrich the content of the reason is, as long as meet the conditions of the code and the new event happens, can be supplemented.Indians see various purana as their historical legends.But in fact is not historical legends, myths and legends.If China is taking history as a mirror, so, India is as a myth and legend.The myths and legends have been increased, the processing of traditional will naturally affect the book "mahabharata", as a result, the "mahabharata," by increase unceasingly, is continually expanding.Pundits, winter has had for "mahabharata", for example, to explain the ancient indians weak sense of history, he said: "in fact, quite chronological study is often in trouble, because many Indian literature, especially those of the most popular, and therefore the most important work for us, has been amended after multiple, in the form of multiple mutations present in front of us.For example, if we find in a book cited the ramayana and the mahabharata ", and it s only about to determine, so often appear such questions: it refers to is our existing epic version, or the older version of the same epic?The tangibility not actually even worse, because most of the ancient literature, the author of we know almost nothing about."[7] Arab traveler Albert rooney wrote in 1030 about India's book also has pointed out: "unfortunately, people in India is not very pay attention to the historical order things, they don't care about their past dynasties emperor chronological, if to say something, they are being lost, confused, will inevitably take legend."[8] the words very clearly that the indians to ignore is the traditional history s.In such contempt s problems produced by the authors and works, historical legends and myths and legends of limit is difficult to distinguish.

Indian philosophers once said, "no desire is Indian features, pleasure is the European features."[9] whether this argument for European accurate and fair, "no desire of India" this evaluation should say it's not too much.Indians for fame and fortune, did very indifference, is for a history or literature, also do not take the form of distinction, in this life and afterlife is not hard to distinguish from the psychological, because they need little, indifferent to fame and wealth, little care about personal gain or loss, so it is difficult to form attaches great importance to this life of traditional cultural psychology, which will be a lot of boundaries are strengthening, blur, weakening, so according to the years led to become an impossible that historical biography tradition has not formed, instead of achievement the literariness of the epic ramayana.

three

India has existed since ancient times in the tradition of imaginative, the "mahabharata" a book in the process of fully embodied.Analysis from the essence, "the mahabharata" is ancient Indian people attempt to use imagination or with the aid of imagination to conquer the forces of nature, control the forces of nature, and the natural force to visualize the crystallization of art.Ancient Indian people rich imagination gave great epics were able to accommodate bacc the broad mind, will India's ancient historical tradition, heroic traditions, myth."Mahabharata" produced by the process is the ancient Indian people give full play to their own imagination, will all kinds of ancient legends long-term process of fantasy, poetry.India is also very unique geographical conditions, the mountains are high sky blue, sea vast, fertile plains.This colorful natural geographical environment to develop the Indian people's imagination and thinking in images, for their wonderful fantasy provides a broad sky, follow one's inclinations to gallop.With their special exact, image thinking active, out of illusion domain, into the room, breaking the senses, beyond the boundaries of time and space, free roam in the myth of the world.Therefore, the epic "the mahabharata," heaven, earth, hell, god, people, ghost, also really also magic, magnificent, romantic infinite change.Today is seen as a fictional "Arabian nights", in ancient India in the eyes of the ancients is not nonsense, but the venerable "learning", they with fear of mental state, full of fantasy, to explore the mystery and the spiritual strength.This is about their art, religion, philosophy thinking, involving their history and culture, human geography, local conditions and customs, reflect their life pursuit and ideal of life, their outlook on life and world view of primitive simplicity, particularly exciting.These rich imagination is not only into the imagination, but a direct impact on the book "mahabharata", make it unconsciously become "mahabharata" constantly is rich, the expansion of the important reasons.

"Mahabharata", we think the origin and the original form is a hero, following after, collectively known as the chief work of some of the other hero of the story and the song man and folk artists will be carol also mix into, length increased.Next, with top characters such as brahman, and the priests and the caste of fairy tales and cultivate the legend of the fairy family added, makes the space continues to expand.In addition, in the constantly told, about god, monty python, ghosts, spirits, animals and birds, the monk, the holy man, holy immortal, etc have been added.At Salem chang DE in discusses the problems of the short story "art", has pointed out: "India ancient stories of mystery, or write about gods.The upanishads and the mahabharata inside through stories to explain the gods' secret '."[10] as Indian scholar Mr Liu Anwu evaluation: "since the gods, monty python, the two sides had a never-ending struggle.Mahabharata war is regarded as god, monty here on earth."Mr. [11] famous pundits bao-sheng huang in the mahabharata also pointed out in the preamble of translation: "suoluo clan wars became increasingly actual war.All the lu clan side most of the king and the prince is asura and Russian metempsychosis, one side the pandavas most of the king and prince is the incarnation descent of the gods.Among them, the dark is Vishnu, strong war is the god of the teachings, some army, fengshen, weeks that is indra, o no species and together day is double stable boy, johndroe poti princess (black) is the lucky goddess."[12] the people and the things of the epic has reason for this is legends and myths that epic itself is dynamic, people are always in the ancient fairy of cultivation with many fairy tales as advice to the ordinary people, to illustrate the truth of life, to explain the bizarre story and characters, so that the epic has some kind of supernatural tendency.

four

"Mahabharata" is a veritable "epic" in the development.Many domestic and foreign scholars have pointed out that the development of the epic expansion after the song of victory, the suoluo more and "mahabharata" three different periods.Mr Bao-sheng huang pointed out in the preamble of the translation: "" mahabharata" original form may be called "the song of victory.This is because in some codex uncoiling first sing song goes like this: first of all to the people and the high/that Luo Yanhe the ROM to salute!/ to salute retinues luo private woman's goddess!/ and started chanting songs of victory."[13] in addition, the epic of the word "victory" is often used as synonymous with "mahabharata", and its story victory in the war, the core is the pandavas visible before and after the inheritance relationship.But when there is only about 8800 of the saga of poetry, the author probably is now considered the poem of the author's broad, descendants of the mouth after his mouth was increased a lot of details, there are many stories and backbone directly or indirectly related content.Space is expanded to about 24000 praise, its name is called "more of Borneo.At this time of the epic tale of its core is the suoluo more of the offspring of the story.After the end of a name is harsh voice namely SAO further elaboration, expansion, join many unrelated interruption, and the other by a vast amount of content, such as politics, religion, philosophy, length reaches more than 100000 praise, whose name is called "the mahabharata."Its core meaning is one of the greatest suoluo namely India national story.This evolution trend clearly shows that this kind of epic in India is never for readers, but for the audience.Because, from the Angle of the preserved the original accurate consideration, this method of word of mouth than hand-written method and more reliable.

Modern famous writer tagore India when deals with the problem of "literary creation", very detailed discusses the ancient India two epic formation process., "he points out that the story is by many country singer and storyteller mouth, with no regulations rhythm and country language, turning in rural courtyard set for many times.When a court poets is not invited to sing simple rural courtyard, but invited singing in brilliant event, he is from which country story, with the rhythm of baptize, modify language, with grand and complete form of poetry, expressed the story."This feeling gathered dispersion and narrative efforts going on for a long time, until "many of the early popular in people's verbal songs together in a long poem, since many years, this poem chanting, by the people, after many times of situation in the hands, finally the poem from across the country has learnt the nourish their enthusiasm, so that it gradually become the country's wealth.In the poem can get the whole national soul of history, philosophy, religion and customs.Only in the original foundation the poet's amazing talent building, on the basis of this kind of situation is likely to appear.The initial founding the poet's talent is so out of the group, it can be a long time the whole country to attract their own career.Although we can't say for a long time by many people step in, it is still not change, still remain perfect the basic structure of their own.We the ramayana and the mahabharata ", especially the latter are examples of this."[14] tagore quite accurately and in detail describes the India two epic of the process, and rise to the aesthetic level to theoretical generalization of the "flavor", has a universal significance.

Epic has transcend reality of space-time and contains historical literariness is not only to be defined "mahabharata" is a "history" or "poem", the main means "mahabharata" causes the cultural characteristics.In fact, the "history" and "epic" history, "poem" and the reality of the dual relationship, clear that it is the most important role in the two original.Its historic lies in its narrative "tribes", meaning that it is a traditional tribal custom with records, a tribal and big hero in records of events, so it doesn't have to like literature very much pay attention to use the image thinking to design.As poetry, it is a kind of "entertainment", a descendant of permanent memory, so it is not fully constrained by real narrative like history.In the mahabharata, this kind of human early epics, chief of the numerous workers with excellent poet in time and space imagination and artistic skills, the actual people entertainment one desire incisively and vividly, the belief in amusing god desires to express accurately, and is almost seamlessly together, as a result, they cannot become a chronicle of the pure text, it is impossible to be completely fictional literature.Due to a lot of ghost stories mix, meanwhile, any compilation of thinking has become impossible, formation of Chinese historical tradition, and it is impossible to make "reality in the past and in the form of absurd myth" [15] this sentence become true in reality.

Indian epic "mahabharata" causes are various, there are social needs, cultural traditions, there are also cultural psychological structure, etc., from genealogical perspective, it should be at the time there rather than all of the here and now."Mahabharata" as a creation of human childhood epic full of myth and the legend of heroes, it must be adapted to its initiation and the survival of the soil and mother's womb, is not easy that a myth, more is not the natural casual that an involuntary art processing can be generated, the charm of a "permanent" exactly is that the genetic diversity and complexity.【 the 】 the author: Meng Zhaoyi (college of arts of tianjin normal university)

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[1] Liu Anwu study of the two great epics of India, Beijing university press, 2001, 30-31.

[2] he edited the ancient literature of India, Beijing university press, 1997, on page 59.

[3] the two great epics of India to comment on assembly ", China social sciences press, 1984, p. 313.

[4] NiPeiGeng et al "tagore paper to learn", Shanghai translation publishing house, 1988, p. 120.

[5] NiPeiGeng et al "tagore paper to learn", Shanghai translation publishing house, 1988, p. 145.

[6] Tang Renhu, Liu Anwu translating the presidio mu chang DE thesis study ", lijiang publishing house, 1987, p. 80.

[7] first Indian literature research of biology, Shanghai translation publishing house, 1984, p. 303.

[8] first Indian literature research of biology, Shanghai translation publishing house, 1984, p. 306.

[9] NiPeiGeng et al "tagore paper to learn", Shanghai translation publishing house, 1988, p. 231

[10] Tang Renhu, Liu Anwu translating the presidio mu chang DE thesis study ", lijiang publishing house, 1987, p. 125.

[11] Liu Anwu study of the two great epics of India, Beijing university press, 2001, on page 14.

[12] vyasa "mahabharata" (a), metal restricting wood, he, the seats will be ZhuangYi, China social sciences press, 2005, page 24.

[13] vyasa "mahabharata" (a), metal restricting wood, he, the seats will be ZhuangYi, China social sciences press, 2005, 10-11 pages.

[14] NiPeiGeng et tagore thesis study "Shanghai translation publishing house, 1988, pp. 78-76.

[15] Marx "Morgan < > in the ancient society book abstract, people's publishing house, 1965, p. 173.