唐代“象外”语义辨正

Researching into the Meaning of “Xiangwai(象外)” Used in the Tang Dynasty

对于唐代诗论中的"象外",今人多解释为"诗歌具体的艺术形象之外"或"物象之外"。这样理解忽略了唐代"象外"使用的实际语境。本文通过探求"象外"语境的变化,认为诗论中的"象外"与其他语境中的"象外"一样,都具有超越世俗的品性,着重于内心的体悟,具有鲜明的社会文化意蕴。

Today people usually think that the word “Xiangwai(象外)” appearing in poem theory materials in the Tang Dynasty means “beyond the poetic image created in a poem”. But an fact has been neglected that “Xiangwai(象外)” appeared much more frequently in other materials than in poem theory materials. So it’s very important for us to extend the context from poem theory to other circumstance, and then we can draw a conclusion that the word has been used in two meanings: a feeling status aloof from the world and a way of getting the truth of Taoism or Buddhism in mind. Apparently, this word reflects the thoughts of the Tang Dynasty in the fields of society and culture.