色幻悟道與平等新生 : 溥緒《摩登伽女曲本》與泰戈爾《昌達爾姑娘歌舞劇》人物形象及主題寓意研究=Equal Rebirth and Enlightenment from Form & Vision : the Research on the Character Image and Theme Implication of Pu Xu's Tune "Matangi's Daughter" and Rabindranath Tagore's Musical Drama "Chandalika"
In Chinese Buddhism, the story of Matangi's daughter has been taken as a warning for male Buddhists to keep away from the temptation of lust, and Matangi's daughter has become a representative of femme fatale. In 1927, Pu Xu (1882-1933, art name Qing Yi Ju Shi) composed a tune of "Matangi's daughter", starred by Shang Xiao-Yun and caused a sensation in the Xinming Theater in Beijing. Then in 1933, this Indian story was written as a musical drama "Chandalika" by the respected Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore, and be readapted and played in theaters until now. These two scripts of the same era both change the point of view toward female by facing up to this character and getting rid of the stereotype as a femme fatale. What's more, they reflect to their own cultural soil and contemporary concern, and present two different theme implications: the former focuses on her love and enlightenment, taking enlightenment from form & vision as the essence; the later focuses on her illumination and equality, taking the practice of equal birth as the essence. Under Pu Xu's pen, the image of Matangi's daughter is modest, beautiful, faithful and virtuous. The story contains compositions of traditional literature such as the spring sentiment of Du Li-niang, the enlightenment from form & emptiness of Jia Bao-yu, and the plot of demon's test like in the "Journey to the West". The concern is on love and enlightenment, to fully recognize illusion and reflections on repulsiveness in the desire of love and lust, and accompanied by equality and compassion. Rabindranath Tagore's musical drama expresses the criticism for the unequal caste system in India. Through his pen, Matangi's daughter is quick-witted on words, active and passionate. Awakened from the unequal caste system, she decides for herself and pursuits her love bravely. The rebirth with love leads to the equality and compassion symbolized by Ananda and Buddha, and implies Rabindranath Tagore's idea of uniting Buddhist and love by "enlightenment in love". The research observes these two paths "active on lust" and "quick attainment of arhathood" interpreted from female perspective. Pu Xu interprets "active on lust" as faithful and virtuous activity, and enlightenment comes after the melt of lust, therefore presenting her enlightenment through love but no further description on "quick attainment of arhathood". Rabindranath Tagore describes nothing of "quick attainment of arhathood" and focuses on "active on lust", therefore the activity comes from illumination of equality and lust becomes the love of independence and bravery, responding to his philosophy of religion "union of Buddhist and love".
