明清“五大奇书”“梯级演进”考论

Research on Cascade Evolution of the Five Great Books in Ming and Qing Dynasties

冯梦龙将《三国演义》《水浒传》《西游记》《金瓶梅》称为通俗文学四大奇书。以冯氏归类为基础,延伸至清代,大可把《红楼梦》也添加进去,共称为"五大奇书"。"五大奇书"在叙事、人物塑造、哲学意蕴方面依照时间顺序呈现出"梯级渐进"的演变特征。在叙事视角上呈现出从"全知"视角到"限知"视角的演进特点。人物塑造从类型化、程式化、单一化逐渐走向个性化、丰富化、复杂化。精神意蕴上则由简括的历史反思逐渐趋向于深层的哲学追问。

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West and Jin Ping Mei are referred as the Four Great Books of popular literature by Feng meng-long. Based on Feng’s classification and extending to the Qing dynasty, A Dream of Red Mansions could be added to the list, which is called the Five Great Books. In terms of narrative, characterization and philosophical connotation, the Five Great Books have presented the characteristics of "step by step" in chronological order. From omniscient perspective to the limited knowledge perspective, the narrative perspective has been characterized by evolution. Characterization has been gradually changed from the typed, stylized and singular to the personalized, enriched and complicated. And in terms of spiritual connotation, the brief historical reflection has gradually tended to the deep philosophical inquiry.