论日本汉文学史

A Brief Comment on Japanese History of Chinese Literature

日本汉文学是一笔数量十分可观的文学遗产。但近百年来,它不仅在日本几乎处于被遗忘、湮没的境地,在中国更少为人知。对汉文学在日本文学史上的地位,当代日本人有两种截然不同的看法和评价。有些日本人对汉文学过于轻视、鄙薄,甚至认为是殖民地化的文学,这是不对的。而中国有的读者以为日本人用中文写不出什么好诗文,也是不对的。中国大智者钱钟书把文学史研究工作戏说为“发掘文墓”和“揭开文幕”。“发掘文墓”殆指文史考证带有考古发掘的性质;“揭开文幕”则说叙述文学史就像演历史剧,还有让观众(读者)鉴赏的目的。研究日本汉文学史,首先就是一种挖其古坟、文化寻根的工作。同时,对日本汉文学作鉴赏评析,也是为了充分实现其艺术价值和思想价值。面对浩瀚的汉文学作品,研究者常常会有惊喜的发现。有一些日本汉文学家达到了非常高的水平,并且得到中国方面的承认和推崇。有些人对日本汉文学的轻视是缘于自己的无知。

Chinese literature in Japan is a literary heritage of treasure. But over a long period of 100 years, it has been forgotten, even put into the extinction, not to speak of the misfortune in China. About the position of Chinese literature in Japan, there are two views and judgments of complete difference. On one hand, some Japanese looked it upon as the colonial literature and show a negligent, scornful attitude; and on other hand, some Chinese consider it a bad one because of their inferior Chinese language. The study of Chinese literature in Japan, first of all, means a hard work of digging up ancient tombs and seeking for cultural roots. Very often, researchers can find surprisingly that some Japanese specialists of Chinese literature have achieved so highly that they are held in esteem in China. It is an ignorant behavior to look down on Chinese literature in Japan.