Review: The Silmarillion – Valaquenta

Introduction

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion is a sweeping and intricate mythological work that lays the foundation for the legendarium of Middle-earth. Within this collection, Valaquenta serves as a crucial segment, expanding upon the Ainur introduced in Ainulindalë and detailing the nature, hierarchy, and roles of the Valar and Maiar—the powerful spiritual beings who shape and govern Arda. While Ainulindalë narrates the creation of the world through the Great Music, Valaquenta shifts its focus to individual deities, their attributes, and their influence on the unfolding history of Middle-earth.

This chapter is not a story in the traditional sense but rather a theological and mythological account, akin to a pantheon description in real-world mythologies. It serves to deepen our understanding of the divine forces that influence the later events of The Silmarillion, establishing the moral and cosmic framework within which the conflicts of Arda unfold.

評論：《精靈寶鑽》— 維拉本紀

引言

J.R.R. 托爾金（J.R.R. Tolkien）的《精靈寶鑽》是一部宏偉而錯綜複雜的神話作品，為中土世界的傳說體系奠定了基礎。在這部作品中，《維拉本紀》作為一個關鍵篇章，進一步擴展了《埃努的大樂章》中介紹的埃努，並詳細闡述了維拉與邁雅——這些強大靈性存在的本質、階層與職責，他們塑造並治理著阿爾達（Arda，世界）。

若說《埃努的大樂章》講述的是宇宙的創造與大樂章的演奏，那麼《維拉本紀》則將焦點轉向個別神祇，描述他們的屬性與影響，並為中土世界的歷史發展奠定基礎。

然而，與傳統敘事不同，《維拉本紀》更像是一部神學與神話記錄，類似於現實世界的神祇譜系描述。它的作用在於深化我們對這些神聖力量的理解，確立影響《精靈寶鑽》後續事件的道德與宇宙框架，使阿爾達的各種衝突得以展開。

The Structure and Purpose of Valaquenta

Unlike other parts of The Silmarillion, Valaquenta is more of a compendium than a narrative. It introduces the Valar, the highest of the Ainur who entered Arda, their Maiar followers, and their eternal adversary, Melkor (later known as Morgoth). The chapter is structured in three primary sections:

The Valar – A listing of the fourteen ruling Valar, their individual domains, and their personalities.

The Maiar – A briefer description of these lesser spirits who serve the Valar.

Melkor and His Servants – A contrast to the benevolent Valar, focusing on Melkor’s corruption and the origins of his followers.

Through these descriptions, Tolkien presents a structured mythology, reminiscent of polytheistic pantheons such as those of Greek, Norse, or Hindu traditions.

《維拉本紀》的結構與目的

與《精靈寶鑽》的其他部分不同，《維拉本紀》更像是一部資料彙編，而非傳統的敘事故事。此篇介紹了維拉——那些進入阿爾達的最高埃努——以及追隨他們的邁雅，還有他們的永恆敵手——米爾寇（後稱魔苟斯）。整個章節主要分為三個部分：

維拉——列出十四位統治維拉，他們各自的領域與性格特點。

邁雅——對這些次級靈體進行簡短描述，說明他們如何侍奉維拉。

米爾寇與他的僕從——與善良的維拉形成對比，重點講述米爾寇的墮落及其追隨者的起源。

透過這些描述，托爾金構築了一個嚴密的神話體系，讓人聯想到希臘、北歐或印度教等多神教的神祇體系，進一步增強了《精靈寶鑽》的史詩感與宗教氛圍。

The Valar: The Powers of the World

The Valar are the most powerful beings in Arda, each embodying a particular aspect of creation. Their presence mirrors the divine archetypes seen in various mythologies, yet Tolkien imbues them with unique personalities and relationships.

Manwë – The King of the Valar and Lord of the Winds, Manwë serves as the chief representative of Eru Ilúvatar’s will. His wisdom and authority contrast with his inability to fully comprehend evil, making him a flawed yet noble ruler.

Varda – Known as Elbereth among the Elves, she is the Queen of the Stars. Her association with light makes her one of the most beloved figures in Elven culture.

Ulmo – The solitary and enigmatic Lord of Waters, Ulmo operates independently of the other Valar and often intervenes directly in the affairs of Middle-earth.

Aulë – The Smith of the Valar, Aulë represents craftsmanship and creation, paralleling figures like Hephaestus or Vishvakarma. His creation of the Dwarves foreshadows the themes of free will and divine oversight.

Yavanna – The Giver of Fruits, she embodies nature and growth, prefiguring her eventual creation of the Ents.

Mandos (Námo) – The Doomsman of the Valar, Mandos presides over the spirits of the dead, embodying fate and judgment.

Nienna – The Lady of Mourning, Nienna’s wisdom stems from grief, and she plays a subtle yet powerful role in shaping the resilience of the Children of Ilúvatar.

Each Vala reflects a distinct aspect of the natural and spiritual order, establishing a framework that defines the forces at work in Middle-earth’s history.

維拉：世界的主宰

維拉是阿爾達最強大的存在，他們各自象徵著創世的一個特定面向。這些神祇的存在與各種神話體系中的神祇原型相呼應，但托爾金賦予了他們獨特的性格與關係，使其更具生命力。

曼威（Manwë）——維拉之王與風之主，曼威是伊露維塔意志的最高代表。他的智慧與權威無可置疑，但他對邪惡的理解力不足，使他成為一位高貴卻帶有缺陷的統治者。

瓦爾妲（Varda）——被精靈稱為伊爾碧綠絲，她是星辰之后。她與光明的聯繫，使她成為精靈文化中最受敬愛的存在之一。

烏歐牟（Ulmo）——深居獨處、神秘莫測的水之主，烏歐牟不受其他維拉的制約，並且經常直接干涉中洲的事務。

奧力（Aulë）——維拉的鍛造者，奧力象徵著工藝與創造，可與希臘神話的赫淮斯托斯或印度教的毗濕瓦卡爾瑪相提並論。他創造矮人的行為預示了自由意志與神聖監管之間的衝突。

雅凡娜（Yavanna）——萬物生長之母，雅凡娜象徵著自然與生機，並預示了她未來創造樹人（Ents）的重要性。

曼督斯（內牟，Námo）——維拉的審判者，掌管亡靈的歸宿，象徵命運與審判。

妮娜（Nienna）——哀悼之女神，妮娜的智慧源於悲傷，她雖然低調，但在塑造伊露維塔子女的堅韌與毅力上發揮著深遠的影響。

每一位維拉都象徵著自然與精神秩序的不同面向，構築了影響中洲歷史發展的神聖框架。

The Maiar: Lesser but No Less Significant

While the Valar are the principal divine beings, the Maiar are their lesser counterparts. These spirits, though not as powerful, are still immensely influential. Among the most well-known Maiar are:

Ossë and Uinen – The spirits of the sea, Ossë’s wild nature contrasts with Uinen’s calming influence.

Eönwë – The herald of Manwë, known for his immense martial prowess.

Ilmarë – The handmaiden of Varda.

Melian – One of the most important Maiar, Melian becomes the Queen of Doriath and the mother of Lúthien, directly influencing the events of The Silmarillion.

Curumo (Saruman), Olórin (Gandalf), and Aiwendil (Radagast) – While not explicitly mentioned in Valaquenta, these Maiar later take on the forms of the Istari, or Wizards, in The Lord of the Rings.

The Maiar serve as an essential link between the celestial and mortal realms, playing critical roles in shaping Middle-earth’s history.

邁雅：次級但同樣重要的存在

雖然維拉是至高無上的神聖存在，但邁雅則是他們的次級對應者。這些靈體雖然沒有維拉那般強大，卻仍然擁有極大的影響力。其中最為人熟知的邁雅包括：

奧犧（Ossë）與烏伊寧（Uinen）——海洋之靈，奧犧狂野不羈的性格與烏伊寧溫和平靜的影響形成鮮明對比。

埃昂威（Eönwë）——曼威的傳令官，以卓越的戰鬥實力聞名。

伊爾瑪瑞（Ilmarë）——瓦爾妲的侍女。

美麗安（Melian）——最重要的邁雅之一，她成為多瑞亞斯的王后，也是露西恩的母親，直接影響了《精靈寶鑽》的重大歷史發展。

庫如魔（Curumo，即薩魯曼）、奧羅林（Olórin，即甘道夫）、艾溫迪爾（Aiwendil，即拉達加斯特）——雖然維拉本紀並未明確提及這些邁雅，但他們後來在《魔戒》中化身為伊斯塔力（Istari，巫師），對中洲歷史產生了深遠影響。

邁雅作為維拉與凡世之間的重要橋樑，在塑造中洲的歷史進程中扮演了關鍵角色。

Melkor: The Great Antagonist

Melkor, later called Morgoth, is the dark counterbalance to the Valar. While once the mightiest of the Ainur, his rebellion and subsequent corruption define the central conflict of The Silmarillion. His desire to dominate rather than create distorts his power, making him the ultimate embodiment of greed, destruction, and chaos.

Unlike Sauron, who is merely a servant of Morgoth, Melkor’s evil is more profound—he is not just a dark lord, but a force of cosmic discord. His corruption extends beyond himself, infecting many Maiar who become his servants, including:

Sauron – Originally a Maia of Aulë, Sauron’s descent into evil mirrors Melkor’s corruption.

Balrogs – Powerful fire-demons who serve as Morgoth’s enforcers.

Ungoliant – A shadowy entity of immense hunger, she aids Morgoth in one of his most heinous acts—the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor.

Tolkien’s portrayal of Melkor as a once-great but fallen being aligns with traditional myths of Lucifer, Loki, or Ahriman, reinforcing the theme of pride leading to ruin.

米爾寇：至高無上的反派

米爾寇（Melkor），後來被稱為魔苟斯（Morgoth），是維拉的黑暗對立面。曾經是最強大的埃努，然而他的叛逆與墮落構成了《精靈寶鑽》核心衝突的根源。他渴望支配而非創造，這使得他的力量變得扭曲，使他成為貪婪、毀滅與混亂的終極象徵。

與僅是魔苟斯僕從的索倫（Sauron）不同，米爾寇的邪惡更為深遠——他不僅是一位黑暗君王，更是宇宙不和諧的化身。他的腐化不僅影響了自己，還波及許多邁雅，使他們墮落並成為他的僕從，其中包括：

索倫（Sauron）——原本是奧力的邁雅，他墮入邪惡的歷程與米爾寇的腐化如出一轍。

炎魔（Balrogs）——強大的火焰惡魔，作為魔苟斯的執行者。

昂哥立安（Ungoliant）——一個充滿無盡饑餓的黑暗實體，她曾協助魔苟斯犯下最駭人聽聞的罪行之一——摧毀維林諾的雙聖樹。

托爾金對米爾寇的描寫，使他成為一個曾經偉大卻最終墮落的存在，這與傳統神話中的路西法（Lucifer）、洛基（Loki）或阿里曼（Ahriman）相呼應，強化了「驕傲導致毀滅」這一貫穿全書的重要主題。

Themes and Symbolism in Valaquenta

Mythological Parallels – Valaquenta shares similarities with various creation myths, such as Greek Titanomachy or Norse cosmology, reinforcing Tolkien’s deep scholarly knowledge of myth.

The Nature of Power – The differing approaches of the Valar and Melkor illustrate the contrast between creation and domination.

The Balance of Good and Evil – Unlike a simple binary conflict, Tolkien presents a complex interplay where even good beings, such as Aulë, make questionable decisions.

Hierarchy and Free Will – Though the Valar hold immense power, they are not omnipotent, nor do they directly control the fate of Middle-earth.

維拉本紀中的主題與象徵意義

神話的相似性——《維拉本紀》與眾多創世神話有相似之處，例如希臘的泰坦之戰（Titanomachy）或北歐宇宙創生傳說，這進一步展現了托爾金深厚的神話學識與研究背景。

權力的本質——維拉與米爾寇對世界的不同態度，清楚呈現了「創造」與「支配」之間的對比。維拉順應伊露維塔的意志塑造亞爾達，而米爾寇則試圖以自身的意志強行扭曲世界。

善與惡的平衡——托爾金並未簡單地將故事塑造成二元對立，而是呈現了一種更複雜的互動關係。例如，即便是正義的奧力（Aulë），也曾做出值得商榷的決定（如私自創造矮人）。

階級與自由意志——儘管維拉擁有強大的力量，他們並非全知全能，也不直接掌控中土世界的命運。他們的影響力雖深遠，卻仍須尊重伊露維塔賦予眾生的自由意志，這一點在整部《精靈寶鑽》中都至關重要。

Conclusion

Valaquenta is a unique and foundational chapter in The Silmarillion, offering a detailed look at the divine figures who shape Middle-earth’s destiny. While it lacks a traditional narrative structure, its mythological depth and theological undertones provide essential context for the events that follow. By establishing the Valar, the Maiar, and the threat of Morgoth, Tolkien constructs a pantheon that is both deeply inspired by real-world mythologies and wholly original.

For readers interested in the grand themes of creation, divinity, and power, Valaquenta is a fascinating study of how Tolkien weaves mythology into his world. It is not merely background lore—it is the foundation upon which all later stories in The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings are built.

結論

《維拉本紀》是《精靈寶鑽》中獨特且至關重要的一章，詳細描述了那些塑造中土世界命運的神聖存在。儘管它缺乏傳統的敘事結構，但其深厚的神話背景與神學色彩為後續故事提供了不可或缺的脈絡。透過對維拉、邁雅及魔苟斯威脅的描寫，托爾金構築了一個既受現實世界神話啟發、又完全獨創的神祇體系。

對於那些對創世、神性與權力等宏大主題感興趣的讀者而言，《維拉本紀》是研究托爾金如何將神話編織進其世界觀的絕佳範例。它不僅僅是背景設定，更是《精靈寶鑽》及《魔戒》所有後續故事的根基。