卮言考释

Textual Research on "Zhiyan"

历来对卮言的解释众说纷纭,原因在于尚未把握住卮言的本质。卮言就是德言,从本质上说是无心之言;为了体现这一本质而采取了悖论之言的手段;悖论之言从内容上说是中正之言,是无可无不可的圆言;从形式上说是日新之言,从形式的结构上说是支离无首尾之言;从读者接受的角度上说,不善读者以之为荒唐谬悠之言,善读者以之为有味之言。《庄子》之所以把这种言说方式命名为卮言,是因为卮是圆而中空的酒器,这和悖论之言恰形成了隐喻关系。就悖论之言的本质而言,是无心,亦即虚(中空)。就悖论之言的内容而言,是中正、无可无不可的圆言;就悖论之言的形式而言,是日新、支离无首尾的圆言。

There are various interpretations to “Zhiyan”, and no agreement is reached. As a matter of fact, “Zhiyan” is virtue language and a kind of empty language in essence. Unfortunately, all of hermeneutics just involve an aspect and fail to catch its essence.