胡应麟“格以代降”说的诗学意义与文化意义

The Significance of Hu Yinglin's "Generational Stylistic Degradation" in Poetics and Culture

"格以代降"是胡应麟对古典诗学传统的提炼和总结,不能被简单地视为文学退化论,这是复古派诗论家对于诗的抒情范围越来越滥、"诗言志"的纯粹性不断受到冲击的诗歌发展历程的一种真实描绘和恳切批评,是对传统诗教精神的重新提倡。"格以代降"与中国古代诗歌的"兴寄"传统有关,"格"是一个整体性的诗学概念,既包括情志层面,也包括体式层面,在此语境中更偏重情志。诗格是创作者身份地位和社会阶层在文学艺术中的隐性显现。高格的标准由社会上层决定,传统士大夫所规定、认同和倡导的最高格,兼具了政治意义、文化意义和审美意义。"格以代降"这一命题的本质是主流诗学话语的掌控者或追随者对于自身的精神追求、权力地位和审美趣味的坚持和捍卫。

Stylistic degradation over the generations is a claim made by Ming-Dynasty scholar Hu Yinglin（1551- 1602） on classical Chinese poetic tradition.This paper argues that Hu＇s claim should not be treated merely as a concept of literary regression but should be taken more seriously as Hu＇s criticism of the uncontained proliferation of lyricism in poetry and corrosion of ＂ideal-expressing＂ poetic tradition.Hu＇s apparent retro idea of poetics conveyed in ＂generational stylistic degradation＂ is closely related with the tradition of ＂ poetic arousal and projection（兴寄）＂ in ancient Chinese poetics and his reaffirmation of poetic cultivation,while poetic style（格） is a holistic concept in poetics which involves the poets＇ emotions and aspirations as well as the genres and stylistics in poetry.Poetic style reflects the poets＇ social status in an implicitly artistic manner,and the ranking of the style is defined by the upper class of the society and therefore poetic style as a symbol of their own tastes on poetry bears great significance on politics,culture and aesthetics.The claim that poetic style degrades over generations should be understood as essentially a poetic pursuit of the mainstream poetics advocated by the scholar-officials who endeavored to defend and maintain their commitment to their spiritual pursuit,social status and aesthetic taste.