关于中国古代文体的思索

A Thinking of Genre-based Approach and Its Studies in Ancient China

描述中国古代各类文体的生成、发展和演变,是贯穿文学史教学的一条重要线索,也是文学史研究的重要课题。对中国古代文体名称进行追本溯源,可以揭示文体生成阶段的基本属性。对于相类似的文体,必须找出彼此之间的细微差异。对相类似的文体加以细微的区分,很重要的一点是对文体名称最大限度地进行历史还原,找出它的原始本义、引伸义以及与文体名称之间的关系。文体分类是相对的,并不具有绝对意义,但是各类文体的划分又是必要的,不能把各种类别的文体相混淆。各类文体的划分,要准确地把握文体的特征。文体的历史发展,其覆盖面有宽窄的变化,历史和逻辑有时相一致,有时又疏离错位。文体的生成具有多源性,要跨越文体的界限进行探源。

Description of all types of literary genres of ancient China remains a key to the teaching of literary history and a major topic in studying literary history, including their emergence, development and evolution. Through tracing to the origin of ancient genre titles, we can reveal the attributes during genre formation stage and find the differentials between similar genres. At the same time, we are able to restore their denotation to largest extent, implied meaning and relations between these genres, by subtle distinction. It is of importance and necessity to categorize genres. We must grasp the characteristics of different kinds of genres. The develop- ment of genres differs from wide range to narrow one. Sometimes, history and logics tend to the sameness. The diversified origins of genre emergence can be explored beyond limitation of genre.