The Two "Single-Footed Kings" at the Pinnacle of World Literature

 The Two "Single-Footed Kings" at the Pinnacle of World Literature

Nantai

Is there a pinnacle of world literature? Many say no, but I say yes. After all, isn’t literature essentially about two concepts: wen (form/beauty of writing) and dao (philosophical essence/way)? The "pinnacle of literature" lies in the attainment of both "the utmost beauty in wen" and "the supreme authority in dao". As I have stated earlier, the only form that can reach the end of aesthetic pursuit is the "praise-through-comedy" genre—this represents "the utmost beauty in wen"; while the only culture that can achieve supreme dao is one that provides answers to "the three ultimate questions of humanity" and embodies the vision of the "Four Sentences of Hengqu" (a set of Confucian ideals advocating concern for the world, life, and future generations). To achieve "both wen and dao in perfection" is to stand at the pinnacle of world literature.

However, before the 21st century, there was not a single work in the global literary world that accomplished "both wen and dao in perfection". There were only two "single-footed summit-reachers"—yet, due to their own inherent limitations, neither of these two "kings" was truly recognized or acknowledged by the world. Worse still, neither made it onto the list of 100 works in the 2002 "World Olympic Games of Literature" held in Norway.

In theory, the "praise-through-comedy novel" that embodies "the utmost beauty in wen" is The Good Soldier Švejk. Regrettably, this "queen"—who ought to wear the crown of beauty—suffers from "edema" (excessive verbosity), distorting her into a form unworthy of an "aesthetic monarch". The original work exceeds 400,000 characters; in pursuit of its "true, elegant form", many abridged versions have been published, some trimmed to over 100,000 characters, others to just a few thousand. Just imagine how severe her "edema" is: a normal "beautiful woman" (a concise, well-crafted work) might weigh around 100 jin (50 kg), but she tips the scales at 800 jin (400 kg). A woman of 800 jin is not endearing—she is intimidating. This is likely why, despite her "royal status" (literary merit), she has never been admitted into the "circle of beauties" (canon of refined, widely celebrated works).

In theory, the work that embodies "the supreme authority in dao" is Journey to the West. This "king" is a true visionary—its dao is of unadulterated supremacy. Unfortunately, this "king" refused to converse with ordinary mortals: it is filled with metaphors, leaving most people unable to comprehend its true meaning. Many even dismiss it as a whimsical tale of a mischievous old immortal. Thus, though it stands at the pinnacle, it remains "invisible"; the majority of people simply overlook it.

Yet, Wang Sanfeng recognizes both. Since he also aspires to reach the literary pinnacle, he has naturally made a thorough study of its current inhabitants. Moreover, Wang Sanfeng has learned from the two "kings’" mistakes and stood "on the shoulders of giants". Švejk is merely a comedic hero who uses "laughter as a shield" to protect himself and "laughter as a sword" to defeat his foes; Wang Sanfeng, however, goes further—he uses "laughter as a plow" to serve the masses, "laughter as an umbrella" to shelter the underprivileged, "laughter as a mirror" to reveal the truth of life, "laughter as a ruler" to measure success, "laughter as a key" to unlock the mysteries of existence, "laughter as a bell" to awaken the soul, "laughter as the moon" to illuminate the world, and "laughter as a whistle" to herald the era of cultural and civilizational enlightenment.

Journey to the West hides its dao in metaphors—though its dao is supreme, it fails to benefit the general public. In contrast, Wang Sanfeng openly raises the banner of "Bodhisattva Literature" (literature that embodies compassion and altruism) and uses plain, accessible language to clearly declare the messages he intends to convey. This is why he is worthy of being called the "Literary Moon" (a guiding light in literature).

Tomorrow, I will unravel the dao of Journey to the West for all to see. On one hand, this will help everyone recognize this truly noble "king"; on the other hand, it will allow everyone to compare and see Wang Sanfeng’s compassionate intent to "guide and save others".