《隋唐志传》成书年代考——兼论明前期的“抄本小说”

When was the History of Sui and Tang Dynasties formally printed?——An analysis of hand-copied novels in early period of the Ming Dynasty

通过考证《隋唐志传》与《唐书志传》成书年代的先后 ,可以确认《隋唐志传》“罗氏原本”的存在 ,从而为《隋唐志传》“书成远在正德之际”说提供有力的证据。《隋唐志传》在正式刊刻之前的正德、嘉靖年间 ,曾以“抄本”的形式流传于世。这类“抄本小说”的存在 ,说明明代前期并非长篇小说创作的“空白期” ,明代前期实际上是长篇小说发展史上一个重要的准备阶段 。

The textual research on when the History of Sui and Tang Dynasties was formally printed and on the book itself can ascertain the existence of Luo’s original work which was popular as a handwritten copy early before it was printed in the periods of Zhengde and Jiajing. This shows that in the early Ming Dynasty, the novel writing was in an important preparing stage instead of a blank period. The existence of hand-copied novels provided conditions for the prosperity of novel writing in the following periods of the Ming Dynasties.