五四文学革命的历史功过

Remarks on the Historical Merits and Demerits of the May 4th Literary Revolution

五四文学革命已经有 85年的历史 ,功过是非 ,理应给予理性的学术评价。对于五四文学革命 ,既有“新儒学派”的根本否定 ,受“新儒学派”影响的传统文化维护派的指责与否定 ,也有“国学派”、“鸳鸯蝴蝶派”、“新鸳蝴派”等的挑战 ,他们的一些批评指出了五四文学革命的缺点与失误 ,往往不无道理 ,但相对于五四文学革命的伟大功绩而言不过是九牛一毛。五四文学革命的主要功绩有 :( 1 )以白话取代文言 ,完成了文学语言由古典向现代的转型 ;( 2 )揭开了中国“人的文学”的新篇章 ;( 3 )彻底扫荡了“鸳鸯蝴蝶派” ;( 4 )取法欧美文学的经验 ,实现了中国文学与世界的首次接轨。

Eighty-five years have passed since the May 4th Literary Revolution. There should be some rational academic remarks on its merits and demerits. Different schools have already put forward a variety of criticisms on its shortcomings and errors, such as thorough denial from the school of neo-Confucianism, unfavorable remarks and denials from the school of sinology, the school of safeguarding traditional culture which is influenced by neo-Confucianism as well as challenges from the school of Mandarin duck and butterfly and the school of neo-Mandarin duck and butterfly. Some of these criticisms are quite reasonable. However, compared with the great achievements made by the May 4th Literary Revolution, these negative remarks are just some drops into the sea. These achievements can be sum up as follows: (a) accomplish the transformation of literary language from the classical one to the modern one by means of the vernacular replacing classical Chinese; (b) open the new era of literature of humanity in China; (c) completely mop up Mandarin duck and butterfly school; (d) make Chinese literature be in line with the world one at the very first time by learning the experiences of European and American literature.