“邯郸学步”抑或“青出于蓝”?——试论清词的复古之路

Research on the Retro Road of Qing Ci

清词在词史上作为继宋词之后的第二个高峰,其发展之路实则是一条在继承唐宋词传统的基础上,不断向更深更广领域拓展的复古之路。清代词人尤其是常州词派在词之“体”即本质特征、情感内容、内在品格和词之“用”即外在形式的探讨中形成了清代词学的辉煌成果,但在不断追溯前人,回归传统的路上必然存在缺失。清代词人将诗教中强调的“雅正”观念引入词体文学中,虽然对词的尊体具有极大的助力,但也因此导致了词之文学活力的丧失;清代词学理论成果颇丰,但实际上对创作的指导意义并不大,由此形成了理论与实践的脱节;浙西词派为逢迎时代而“歌咏盛世太平”和常州词派在时局动荡的近代中国仍故步自封、不合时宜,皆对词体的发展产生了阻碍。

Qing Ci, as the second peak in Ci history after Song Ci, its development is actually a road of restoring ancient ways to a deeper and broader field on the basis of inheriting the tradition of Tang and Song Ci. Ci poets in Qing Dynasty, especially Changzhou Ci School, have formed brilliant achievements in Ci poems studies in the discussion of the “style” of Ci, namely, essential characteristics, emotional content, internal character, and the “use” of Ci, namely, external form. However, there are inevitably some deficiencies in the way of returning to the tradition by tracing back to the predecessors. Ci writers in Qing Dynasty introduced the concept of “elegance and justice” emphasized in poetry teaching into Ci literature. Although it greatly helped the respect of Ci, it also led to the loss of vitality in Ci literature. The theoretical achievements of Ci poems in Qing Dynasty′s studies are quite abundant, but in fact they have little guiding significance for creation, thus forming a disconnection between theory and practice. However, in order to ingratiate themselves with the times, the western Zhejiang Ci School “sang the praises of the prosperous times and peace”. And the Changzhou Ci School stood still and outdated in the turbulent modern China. Both of them have hindered the development of Ci style.