“寓言”考

Investigation into "Parable"

"寓言"一词在小说领域的使用,较早出现于唐代,用于批评笔记小说中的虚妄不实之作,或标示"以文为戏"之作的虚构寄寓性。宋元时期,开始用以特意模糊笔记小说实录传闻和有意虚构的界限。明代,开始用以更多地评价传奇小说,实际上成为传奇小说幻设虚构和寄托言志文体意识确立的标志。同时,在白话小说兴起之初,"寓言"随即被借用,并逐渐成为白话小说以自觉虚构和主体寄托为核心观念的文体意识发展成熟的标志。近代以来,随着伊索寓言传入中国,"寓言"由古代理论批评术语逐步转型为现代文体概念。

The application of the word ＂parable＂ appears as early as Tang Dynasty, aiming at criticizing the absurd and false part in some account, or the fictional characteristics in other works which regards novel writing as a game play. In Song and Yuan Dynasty, it is used to blur the boundary between real record and intentional fiction in account books. In Ming Dynasty, it is adopted to evaluate legendary novels and becomes a sign of the consciousness of intentional fiction and ambition implied style. At the same time, when vernacular novel rises, ＂parable＂ is borrowed and becomes the sign of the maturity of the style of a conscious fiction and implication-laden subject. In modern times, along with the introduction of Aesop＇s fables, it turns from a term in ancient theoretical criticism into a concept in modern stylistics.