“气”与宋代诗学“活法”论

“Qi”(气) and the “Flexible Law”(活法) in Poetics of the Song Dynasty

唐代诗学主要侧重对声病、对偶、句势等作诗之"法"的层面上的讲求,而宋代诗学的新变则在于形成有定法而无定法的"活法"论。宋代"活法"论的直接内涵在于"意"对"法"的超越,正和宋代诗文书画的"尚意"之风相表里。但矛盾之处在于,宋人尚"意"的同时又反复强调"无意",这就超越了"意"的诗艺层面而进入更根本的修养层面。"意"的根本即在于"气"。"活法"论的本质就在于宋人超越诗艺层面,而进入对于诗人修养功夫的"气"的层面的思考和重视。

The poetry of the Tang Dynasty focused on techniques such as rhythm, parallelism and syntax. The poet-ic transformation in the Song Dynasty, however, culminated in what is called the ‘ flexible law ’ （活法）. The meaning of ‘ flexible law ’ （活法）was the transcendence of ‘ idea ’ （意）over ‘ law ’ （法） ？ But at the same time , theorists of the Song Dynasty emphasized the absence of ＊ idea y （意）as w el l ,and h en c e , a deeper layer of issue was touched upon, that is, the cultivation of ‘ qi ’ （气 ）. ‘ Q i ’ （气 ）was more important than ‘ id e a ’ （意 ） .Therefore, we can say the truth of ‘flexible law ’ （活法）lies in the cultivation of ‘ qi ’（气）,surpassing the tech-nical layer of ‘ law ’ （法）and ‘ idea ’ （意 ） .