序文之体与古今嬗变

The Stylistic Characteristics and Variation of Xu

序是中国古老文体之一,它依附或并列于典籍、文章、地图等之前或之后,旨在说明与该文本相关的任何内容,在自由中又讲究行文次第的文体。序文在发展中逐渐繁衍流变。一是具有依附性的序文,内容多为述篇章之所作,言内容之次第。这其中有书序、文序、诗序、杂序等四大类。二是具有独立性的序文,内容多为叙事件之缘起,抒情绪之所蕴。主要有游宴序、赠序等。其中,赠序在发展的过程中,文人们又进一步将其文体功能扩充,这便产生了名字序与寿序。

Xu （preface） is the old writing style in China. It attaches itself to the front （ or back） of books, articles and pictures; it shows this version in the any side; its writing is free, but it has some rules. The Xu is the growing style. It includes two kinds. One is the dependent article; it includes Shu Xu, Wen Xu, Shi Xu, Za Xu. Another one is the independent article, and it includes You Yan-Xu and Zeng Xu. When Zeng Xu was developing in the history, the writers invent Ming Zi-Xu and Shou Xu.