春秋时代的“文言”变革与文学繁荣

Reform of the Written Language in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Flourishing of Literature

文言是对直白的语言形式(言)进行自觉的文饰和美化(文),文言的问题是文学的重要问题。春秋时代完成了先秦时期旧体文言到新体文言的历史转变,与商周以来的古体文言相比,春秋时期的"新文言"呈现出表现方法自由灵活,修辞手段广泛应用,语言鲜活生动,形式多变,骈散结合,语助词普遍使用等特征。新体文言的成熟使得中国文学的发展有了新的格局与气象:各种文体逐渐完备,文学创作出现繁荣局面,"建言修辞"成为时代风尚,独立的文人阶层趋向形成,文学理论表现出体系性成熟。春秋时代的"文言"变革与文学繁荣标志着这一时期的中国文学已经进入全面成熟和自觉的历史时期。

Written language is conscious decoration and refinement of vernacular language,and thus the question of written language is a central one for literature.The written language of the pre-Qin period experienced a stylistic revolution in the Spring and Autumn period.Compared with the old style used in the Shang and Zhou dynasties,the new written language of the Spring and Autumn period showed more freedom in expression and wider use of rhetorical devices.It was more lively and vivid,featuring more variations,combining pian wen(parallel prose)and san wen(free prose),and making regular use of auxiliary words.The perfecting of the new style of written language made possible new developments and a new spirit in Chinese literature.With the development of various styles,literary creation entered a golden age in which fine writing became fashionable.This period saw the formation of a stratum of literati and the systematic development of literary theories.The evolution of written language and the flourishing of literature in the Spring and Autumn period marked the beginning of comprehensive maturity and consciousness in Chinese literary history.