比较文学在中国:历史的回顾及当代发展方向

Comparative Literature in China:Historical Retrospection and Contemporary Orientations

虽然不少学者认为,比较文学作为一门学科是从西方引进的,但是从历史发展的角度来看,中国比较文学则有着自己独特的历史和发展轨迹。它经历了三个阶段:作为研究方法的前历史(1906-1949),非学科的边缘化阶段(1949-1977)以及学科化和全面复兴(1978-)。在这方面,王国维和鲁迅可以说是中国最早的比较文学学者,王国维的《红楼梦评论》和鲁迅的《摩罗诗力说》分别作为早期的开拓性著述为比较文学在中国的兴起以及其后的全面复兴奠定了基础。新中国成立后,由于受到苏联文艺思想的影响,比较文学在中国被放逐到了边缘。而在改革开放的年代,比较文学真正作为一门独立的学科再度从西方引进,在这方面,笔者亲身经历了这一系列的变革,并从21世纪至今连续领衔主办了多次高规格的比较文学国际会议,尤其是延续了由钱锺书开创的中美比较文学双边会议机制:它致力于中美双边比较文学研究和对话以及现当代西方文论的研究,并借助这个平台努力在国际学界发出中国学者的声音,这一切均有力地推进了中国文学乃至整个人文学科的国际化进程。

Although to many people comparative literature in China is an ＂imported＂ discipline from the West, yet, from a historical point of view, China＇s comparative literature has its unique route of development. It has undergone three stages： prehistory （1906-1949）, marginal stage （1949-1977）, and overall renaissance （1978-）. In this aspect, LuXunandWangGuoweishould be regarded as two of the pioneering figures： Wang Guowei is most famous for his Review of The Dream of Red Mansions, and Lu Xun for his On the Force of Romantic Poetry. Their aforementioned works certainly made foundational contributions to the later rise of comparative literature in China. But after the founding of the People＇s Republic of China, comparative literature was largely ＂marginalized＂ due to the influence of the Soviet literary doctrine. In the era of the reform and opening up, comparative literature was introduced once again in China as an academic discipline. The author of the present paper has experienced this process and been playing a leading role in organizing various academic activities since the beginning of this century, especially the Sino-American symposium on comparative literature initiated by late Qian Zhongshu. This mechanism has undoubtedly helped Chinese-American literary and cultural exchange and dialogue and the studies of contemporary Western literary theory. Based on this mechanism, China＇ s comparatists could carry on equal dialogues with their international counterparts, which has effectively promoted the internationalization of Chinese literature and the entire humanities.