譬论的定型——以《说苑》为例

On The Finalization of thePatterns of Metaphorical Argument——A Case Study of Shuo Yuan

中国早期小说最重要的特征是"譬论",即譬喻故事加论议。"譬论"约形成于战国中晚期,以《晏子春秋》、《韩非子》、《吕氏春秋》等为代表;中经《韩诗外传》以故事说诗,"譬论"定型于汉代,以《说苑》为代表。《说苑》之"譬论"大致有四种形态:(1)一个譬喻故事+论议;(2)一个譬喻故事论议;(3)一段带有情境的对话+间接论议(篇首论、章论);(4)一个譬喻故事+间接论议(篇首论、章论)。其中,前两种是其基本形态,后两种是其变化形态。

The most distinctive feature of the early Chinese novels is Metaphorical Comment, meaning metaphoricalstories plus comment. Metaphorical Comment probably took its form during middle and late Warring States Period, represented by YanZi Chun Qiu, Han FeiZi, Lu Si Chun Qiu and so on. Later on in Han Shi WaiZhuan, stories were taken up to ex- plain Shi Jing. The patterns of Metaphorical Comment were finalized in Han Dynasty with Shuo Yuan as its model, in which there are four different forms of Metaphorical Comment： the first is a metaphorical story plus comment; the second is Comment with a metaphorical story; the third is a contextual conversation plus indirect comment （the opening comment or chapter comment） ; the fourth one is a metaphorical story plus indirect comment （the opening comment or chapter comment）. Among these four forms the first two are the basic patterns while the latter two are the changed forms.