Like father, like son? Some notes about Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Wanyin
I know it’s the author who gave them those names, but I find it interesting how the names 江楓眠 (Jiang Fengmian) and 江晚吟 (Jiang Wanyin) both come from Tang poetry.
Jiang Fengmian’s name is from an extremely famous poem Maple Bridge Night Mooring written about my ancestral home, which coincidentally happens to be where the Lan sect lives - Gusu (姑蘇, known as Suzhou in modern times).
The specific phrase of the poem that his name draws inspiration from is：「江楓漁火對愁眠。」, which translates roughly to, “Riverside maples and fishermen’s lights face me in my worried sleep.” (It’s a literal, not poetic translation. Forgive me for butchering such a beautiful poem.)
The poem describes a sleepless night, in which the author is disturbed by the cawing of crows, the coldness of frost, the fishermen’s lights, and the sound of a Buddhist temple’s bells.
The name Jiang Wanyin, on the other hand, is from a less well-known poem (it’s a good poem, but the Maple Bridge Night Mooring poem is so damn famous that the temple mentioned in the poem literally has a monument with the poem inscribed), 送祝秀才歸衢州, which has no proper English title (the title basically means “Seeing off a scholar (back) to Zhangzhou”)
What I find quite intriguing is the phrase concerned with the words Jiang Wanyin, which is：「騎吏陪春賞，江僧伴晚吟。」
It roughly translates to, “Riders accompany the appreciation of spring, monks on the river (江, Jiang) accompany night chanting (晚吟, Wanyin).”
The Jiangs may be descended from free-spirited heroes, but these naming conventions show that the Jiangs are rather intellectual and poetic. Furthermore, these courtesy names also perhaps foreshadowed the tragedy of both Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Cheng’s loves. Both poems are lamentations; the former describes an insomniac who cannot clear his mind, and the latter laments the passing of time.
Anyways, there are two versions of this post - the short version, and the longer version with spoilers, speculation and symbolism. If you’re fine with spoilers and would like to read the longer version, click “keep reading”.
All three names associated with Jiang Cheng in canon - Jiang Cheng, the Sage of Three Poisons, and Jiang Wanyin, all have to do with Buddhist concepts. I think everyone who reads MDZS knows about Jiang Cheng’s inability to let go of the past and the way he’s allowed his pain, hurt and anger to fester for 13 years.
Three Poisons refers to the Buddhist concept of the three mortal afflictions (a Western point of reference would perhaps be the Seven Deadly Sins?) that perpetuate the cycle of reincarnation/prevent ascension to Nirvana. These afflictions are delusion, desire and aversion. The in-universe character who named Jiang Cheng’s sword after these concepts most likely hoped that Jiang Cheng would destroy or break past these afflictions.
The word “Cheng” (澄) literally means clear or transparent, and connotes tranquility and peacefulness, the ideal state of being according to Buddhism. Jiang Cheng’s parents, as problematic as they were, probably wanted him to live life with peace and clarity in his heart (in ancient China heart and mind were conflated).
But Jiang Cheng appears in the story as a menacing, antagonistic figure, with a sharp tongue and a lack of sympathy towards everyone outside of his sect and family. He is cold, distant and harsh, even with his beloved nephew.
What’s interesting is that his courtesy name Wanyin is associated with monks.
If you don’t mind spoilers… well… read on.
(This might break your heart if you love Jiang Cheng so beware)
izzy806
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
jbbartram-illu
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
origamiaround
