西方第一部日本文学史对近世小说的论述及其特色

On the Writing and Characteristics of the Kinsei Novels in the 1st History of Japanese Literature by European Scholar

英国外交家、日本研究者阿斯顿撰写了西方第一部日本文学史。与日本第一部日本文学史对比阅读可知,其近世小说书写在体例、小说分类、小说评述,以及比较文学意识方面都体现了一定的独特性。这种独特性一方面为研究日本近世文学提供了新的启示,另一方面又在一定程度上反映了作者的西方文学或文化优越感;既有利于西方读者了解日本近世小说,同时又阻碍了西方读者真正理解日本文学。

The first history of Japanese Literature was written by W .G .Aston ,an English diplo‐mat and Japanese scholar .Compared with the first history of Japanese Literature by Japanese scholar , it showed some special characteristics in forms ,classification ,commentary ,consciousness of compar‐ative literature in the writing of pre‐modern novels .These special kinds of features showed the sense of superiority of European culture or literature to a certain degree ,w hile scholars in this field may draw some inspiration form it .Meanwhile ,the features can help European readers know Japanese pre‐modern novels quickly ,but at the same time inhabit their real understanding of Japanese literature .