“离之则双美,合之则两伤”——刘知幾文史观再认识

New Understanding of Liu Zhi-ji' View on the Relationship between Literature and Historiography

刘知幾通过对文、史流变的考察以及对文士之文与史家之文、文才与史才的辨析,指出史家之文辩而不华、质而不俚、文直事核,体现了历史叙事之美,而文士之文绮扬绣合、雕章缛彩,以之叙事,必定损害史学之实录品格,而且认为文士不懂史学义例、史家撰述宗旨,缺乏史才。因此,他主张文史应该分离,文人不能修史。

Liu Zhiji studied the history of the relationship between literature and historiography and analyzed the difference styles of literature and historiography. He also examined the distinction between literary talent and historical talent. He argued that the style of historical works was plainness, but the style of literature was beautiful and complex. If the historian writes historical works in the style of literature, his work cannot convey truth. Liu Zhiji emphasized that there is a clear demarcation between the study of literature and that of history. Literature and history should be respectively studies by critics and historians.