论“序题”——对中国古代一种文体批评形式的定名与考察

“Expository Preface” as a Form of Classical Chinese Generic Criticism

中国古代一些文章总集在其目录或卷首著有简述文体渊源流变的小序,这种形式原来并没有统一的名称。为了对此进行更为系统、更为自觉的研究,拓展中国文体学研究学术空间,有必要使用"序题"一词予以定名。序题是中国古代一种独特、重要且历史悠久的批评文体,它萌于汉,成于晋,宋元始兴,至明清、民国尤盛。序题作为批评文体的主要特色与理论价值是:以辨体为核心、理论之系统性、理论与文本的密切关联。

Some ancient literary anthologies in China usually carry in the contents or before the main body of a volume a preface that introduces the generic evolution, and there has no commonly agreed name for this particular form of writing. The paper pro- poses that the name of ＂expository preface （xuti 序题）＂ should be applied to it so that the research into Chinese literary genre could be conducted in a more systematic and self - conscious way. ＂Expository preface＂ is a unique and important genre of criti- cism in ancient Chinese literary history, and it gestates in Han Dynasty, takes its form in Jin Dynasty, and becomes popular since Song and Yuan Dynasties, especially so during the Late Imperial and Early Republican periods. The author expounds that exposi- tory preface as a generic form of literary criticism carries its characteristic critical values through its focus on the evolution of genres, the systemization of theoretical investigation, and the close link between literary theory and texts.