“圣境”“神境”“化境”——金圣叹小说叙事理论关键概念命题研究之三

“Holy State”,“Spiritual State”and“Transformation State”——A Study of the Key Concepts and Propositions of Jin Shengtan’s Narrative Theory about Novels

针对诗歌、史传、散文、书法、绘画、音乐等进行分级评定是文艺批评、文艺理论建构的方式。在金圣叹提出以“圣境”“神境”“化境”之三境说作为评判小说艺术境界的分级标准之前,没有针对小说的分级评判标准。三境分别代表小说艺术所达到的不同水平、程度、境界。“圣境”是“心之所至手亦至焉者”,言意一致之境;“神境”是“心之所不至手亦至焉者”,是有法之境、虚实相生之境;“化境”是“心之所不至手亦不至焉者”,是无法之境、空白可达意之境。“圣境”是小说所应该达到的最低要求,是实境,求真、求善;“神境”和更高一级的“化境”则求美。同为求美,作为审美理想存在的最高层次的“化境”高于“神境”,是与道合一的境界。

To grade and evaluate poetry,historical biography,prose,calligraphy,painting and music is a way of criticizing literature and constructing literary theory.Before Jin Shengtan mentioned the theory of“holy state”,“spiritual state”and“transformation state”for grading artistic levels of novels,there was no grading criteria for novels.The three states represent different levels,degrees and states of the novel art respectively.“holy state”is“what comes to mind can be expressed in words”;“spiritual state”is a state in which“words can express things that the heart has not thought of”;“transformation state”is“the heart does not think,words can not convey”,and is the realm of the impossible,in which blank can reach the meaning of the state.“transformation State”is the minimum requirement that the novel should meet,which is to seek truth and good.“Spiritual state”and higher“transformation state”are to seek beauty.For seeking beauty,as the highest level of aesthetic ideal existence,“transformation state”is higher than“spiritual state”,which is a state of unity with Tao.