胡适与《脂砚斋重评石头记》在台湾的影印发行

Hu Shih and the Copy and Publishing of the Zhiyanzhai’s Comments on the Dream of the Red Chamber in Taiwan

胡适逝世前一年,亲自主持被称为"人间最古写本《红楼梦》"——《乾隆甲戌脂砚斋重评石头记》一书的双色影印,在台湾和香港发行。胡适通过恰到好处地介绍图书的价值、在台北最具影响力的官方媒体刊登广告、采用预售制、向台湾政要名流及海内外著名学术机构赠书等努力,产生很好的社会效益,也取得超预期的发行成绩。胡适影印《脂砚斋重评石头记》旨在保存珍稀古籍的原貌,让文化典籍得到更好的流传,对重建和繁荣台湾的学术文化出版,填补后日据时代台湾中国文化学术出版的空白,具有积极意义。

Hu Shih took charge of the dual-colored copy of the Zhiyanzhai’s Comments on the Dream of the Red Chamber in the Jiaxu Year of Emperor Qianlong’s Reign, the earliest manuscript of the novel, as well as its publishing in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hu Shih made many endeavors, including introducing the book’s value with appropriate words, advertising in the most influential government-controlled media in Taipei, adopting the presale system and giving books to political figures in Taiwan and famous Chinese and foreign academic organizations for free. These efforts paid off in creating good social benefits and making the publishing achievements beat the expectation. Hu Shih’s copy of the Zhiyanzhai’s Comments on the Dream of the Red Chamber was aimed at preserving the original of the precious ancient book and passing down the cultural classic. It was of great significance to rebuilding and prospering the academic & cultural publishing in Taiwan and filling up the gap of Taiwan in publishing Chinese academic and cultural books when it was occupied by Japanese troops(1895-1945).