可以失实但不能虚构——纪昀小说观的理论与实践

Unreality but Not Fiction: Theory and Practice of Ji Yun Novel View

班固在《汉书·艺文志》中把小说列入九流十家,纪昀继承这种观点,在《四库全书总目》中对小说的收录划定两个标准:首先,小说既然是稗官搜集来的刍荛狂夫之议,就无法保证其真实,但搜集者本身不能虚构,所以小说可以失实但不能虚构;其次,小说既然属于子部,就意味着以议论为宗,叙事仅仅是铺垫,所以读者对事件的真伪不要太过苛求。纪昀认为,对于小说来说,创作者的态度比内容的虚实问题更重要。这种小说观在《阅微草堂笔记》中得以充分展现。

Ji Yun established two criteria for collection of novels in his Superorder of Four Treasuries： the collectors could not make up stories, and the readers could not be too concerned about authenticity of novel events. Ji Yun holds the view that the attitude of the writer proves more important than the novel authenticity, and the view is reflected adequately in The Notes of Yuewei Cottage.