试论中国古典文学的“显”与“隐”

The Exoteric and the Esoteric in Chinese Classical Literature

在中国文论史上,刘勰第一次提出显隐范畴并作了简要的解释,其基本思想与现代哲学之显现与隐蔽有相通之处。显隐涉及到了文学创作的诸多问题,从这一视阈可以比较深入地研究文学内在蕴含及审美特性。本文探讨显隐之义蕴及其形成缘由,论析中国古典文学、文学史上之显隐表现及其形成原因、文学与思想的关系等,并进而探求读解、研究之思路。

LIU Xie, the first literary critic to expose the notions of the exoteric and the esoteric in literature, bases his argument on the simple primitive literary philosophy of ancient China, and his theories are considered to have affinity with the philosophic tenets of the modern West. The study of the exoteric and the esoteric natures of literature provides solutions to many literary problems concerning the creation and experience of literature itself. The paper is a comprehensive analysis of the two features in ancient Chinese literature as related to history, philosophy and social thoughts, and their origin and relationship.