钱谦益“弇州晚年定论”发覆

A New Discussion on Qian Qian-yi's“Conclusion on Yanzhou's Later Years”

"弇州晚年定论"是一"公案"性质的问题,明清以来王锡爵、李维桢、焦弘、钱谦益、陈田、四库馆臣等都曾予以关注,诸人之所以强调王世贞晚年之论,目的是要以其晚年文学思想来否定其早年文学思想,并由否定王世贞早年文学思想而对七子派复古运动进行反思或质疑。钱谦益提出的"弇州晚年定论"的核心问题是强调王世贞晚年"自悔",由此而否定七子派复古运动的合法性,然而却因引文错误而受钱锺书先生批判。若细致搜检王世贞晚年文献,钱谦益之说未必"每不足信",王世贞晚年在创作内容、取法对象、创作方法、审美趣尚等方面都发生了转变,不过作为一位博学广识者,王世贞的思想并不是从一个极端走向另一个极端,而是"随事改正",目的是"勿令误人而已"。

The ＂Conclusion on Yanzhou＇s Later Years＂ is a disputed issue, which was discussed by such scholars as Wang Xi-jue, Li Wei-zhen, Jiao Hong, Qian Qian-yi, Chen Tian and officers of Siku. They emphasized on Wang Shi-zhen＇s literary thoughts in his later years in order to deny his early literary ideas. Qian Qian-yi put up with ＂Wang＇s regrets in his old age＂, which was criticized by Qian Zhong-shu for his wrong quotations. However, what Qian Qian-yi insisted may not be distrusted thoroughly as long as Wang^s literature in his later years was carefully studied. Wang changed greatly in terms of context, learning objectives, writing methods and aesthetic intention. However, a profound and learned scholar, Wang was did not go from one extreme to another. He just ＂amended the thoughts along with the time＂ so as ＂not to mislead others＂.