周树人金石学研究的尝试与限度——以其考碑为中心

Zhou Shuren’s Attempt and Limitation in the Study of Epigraphy——Centering on his tablet inscription research

在大量抄录、校勘古碑的基础上,周树人曾在短时间内写过7篇有关碑铭的考证文章,但他随即终止了此项工作。分析其原因,一方面是由于主客观因素所导致的。主观方面,周树人的考碑讲究实证,多方参考史书及前人研究成果,追求考证的科学性与严谨性。这需要有渊博的知识、翔实的史料和深入的考证作持续支撑。客观方面,碑刻剥蚀、文字脱漏、史料讹漏等,给释读、考证与推论带来局限、疏漏甚至是错误。因此,在主客观因素的双重作用下,周树人未能将金石学研究推向理想高度。另一方面是由于他恰好又得遇《新青年》等发声平台,可以重续自己以文学改变国民精神的理想。虽然,周树人没有继续他的金石学研究,从而成为一代金石学家,但他却以“鲁迅”的身份跻身现代中国文坛,进而成为现代中国文学界、思想界的一面光辉的旗帜。

On the basis of transcribing and collating a large number of ancient tablet inscriptions,Zhou Shuren once wrote seven papers on the study of inscriptions in a short time,but immediately he stopped his work.Through analysis,the causes involve both subjective and objective factors.Subjectively,Zhou Shuren in his inscription research stressed empirical evidence,consulted in many ways historical records and the research results of the predecessors,and pursued preciseness and scientificity of textual research.This required the continuous support of profound knowledge,detailed historical materials and in-depth research.Objectively,the denudation of the tablet inscriptions,absence of words,and errors or omissions of historical materials caused limitations,negligence,and even errors in interpretation,textual research and inference.As a result,affected by both the subjective and objective factors,Zhou Shuren failed to push his study of epigraphy onto an ideal height.On the other hand,he happened to find such a free speech platform as New Youth,and thus could resume his ideal of changing the national spirit with literature.Although unable to continue his inscription research to become a successful epigraphy scholar,Zhou Shuren stepped into the modern Chinese literary world with the name of“Lu Xun”,and then became a glorious banner in the modern Chinese literary and ideological circles.