明初诗文三大家位次之争

Argument about the Academic Ranking of Three Famous Litterateurs at the Beginning of Ming Dynasty

宋濂、刘基、高启的文学地位历来各有其说,难分高下。笔者分别比较三人的文学成就、社会评价和政治影响,认为宋濂的文学创作略逊刘基,颉颃高启,但其文论成就突出,影响巨大,是政治上的文坛领袖,堪称"开国文臣之首"。高启诗才冠绝,一派文人性情,但政治影响不敌宋、刘,只能位居"开国诗人第一"。而刘基三者俱佳,确有"明初第一文人"实力,可惜掩于军功,也未领文学之职,与政治色彩较浓的"开国文臣第一"赞誉名实不符。

Views differ about the literary position of Songlian, Liuji and Gaoqi for hundreds of years. After making the comparison among their literary achievements, social assessment, political influences, the author thinks that Songlian＇s literary creation is inferior a bit to Liuji＇s and equal to Gaoqi＇s. But Song＇s achievement in literary theory is very prominent and influential and he should be considered to be the politically leading figure in the literary world and entitled to the honor of the leader of the official ministers in the early period of Ming Dynasty. Gaoqi＇s poetic talents excel and has obvious literator temperament. So his political influence doesn＇t match Song and Liu and he can merely be honored the No. 1 poet in the early period of Ming Dynasty. Liuji is superb in the three areas. He is competent for the best litterateur in the early period of Ming Dynasty,but his literary fame is dwarfed by his military feats and also doesn＇t act as civil officials. Therefore he is unworthy of the honor of ＂No. 1 official minister at the founding pcriod of Ming Dynasty＂.