《七略》称名新释

A New Explanation of the Name of Qi Lue

《七略》称名之“略”,章太炎先生以为表图书分类,姚名达先生以为表详简之“简”,论者或从前者,或从后者。“略”除可表分类及“简”义外,还有“要”或“梗概”等含义。基于“略”之“要”或“梗概”之含义,通过对《七略》之产生、渊源、命名、注释等进行分析,可知《七略》称名之“略”不当以表分类或详简之“简”解之,而当以“要”(或“梗概”)义解之。以《七略》称名之“略”为“要”(或“梗概”)义,可以进一步得出结论,刘歆编撰《七略》的根本目的还是在于辨析学术源流,论断诸家学派的学术价值及其不足等。以“略”表图书分类或详简之“简”,不仅不能反映刘歆辨析学术源流、论断诸家学派的主观意图,更不能反映从《淮南子·要略》至司马谈《论六家要指》再至《七略》的这一学术研究史的发展脉络。

“Lue”,as the name of Qi Lue,Zhang Taiyan thinks that it means the classification of books recorded by Qi Lue while Yao Mingda thinks that it means the simplification of Bie Lu.But,the word“lue”can also means abstract or summary besides the meaning of classification or simplification.Through research,we can know that the meaning of the word“lue”should be abstract or summary instead of classification and simplification.Based on this conclusion,we can know more that Liu Xin’s objective of compiling Qi Lue is discriminating the academic origin and development,and evaluating the value and shortcoming of schools in the books recorded by Qi Lue.The meaning of classification or simplification not only fails to reflect Liu Xin’s objective but also the academic history from YaoLue of Huainanzi to Si Matan’s Lun Liu Jia Yao Zhi and Qi Lue.