明代古文选本的古文观念刍论

On the Idea of Ancient Chinese Prose in Ming Dynasty

明代古文选本总量在600种以上,远超宋元选本,丰富的编选经验使明人常在序跋中表达对古文的理论思考,序跋成为考察明代古文选本不可忽视的重要组成部分。明人在古文选本序跋中表达的古文观念,主要有古文本源论、古文功用论、古文时文论、古文发展论、古文审美论。明代古文选本对古文的传统定位有承有革,他们一方面继续倡导古文的政教人伦之用,标举古文"典雅""浑厚"的传统风格,一方面则纷纷表达己见,不再尊崇一说,使古文本源论、功用论、古文时文论呈现出众声喧哗的多样化面目。古文发展论,体现出明人对古文发展规律的认识以及自觉构筑完整文学史的努力。在时代思潮的汹涌撞击下,明人古文阅读的主体性地位大大提高,肯定了古文的美学特征与阅读体验,使古文阅读从政教修身的工具存在转而为主体性灵自由伸展的审美活动。因此,古文审美论成为明代古文选本序跋中最具时代特色的古文观念。考察明代古文选本中的古文观念,有助于我们更加准确地认识明人普遍的、沉淀为明代一般知识形态的文学思想。

People in Ming dynasty express their thinkings about ancient Chinese prose in preface and postscript which is an important part of selected works of ancient Chinese prose.Their thinkings about ancient Chinese prose contain the origination,function,improvement and taste of ancient Chinese prose.On the one hand,they advocate the ethical function of ancient Chinese prose.On the other hand,they express their own ideas of ancient Chinese prose.The taste of ancient Chinese prose becomes a most distinctive idea of ancient Chinese prose.