由训诂通经义:论乾嘉经学的治经方法

FROM SEMANTIC EXEGESIS TO CONFUCIAN CLASSICS ARGUMENTATION:ON THE METHODS OF STUDYING CONFUCIAN CLASSICS IN QIAN-JIA PERIOD

中国传统经学研究由“尊德性”到“道问学”的转变,促使训诂成为通经的必要因素和先决条件,“由训诂通经义”成为学者治经的主要方法。解经方法的转变带动了传统小学的全面发展,使文字、音韵、训诂的研究进入鼎盛时期,而传统小学的进步又促进了传统经学的转变和乾嘉经学的纵深发展,为乾嘉学者疏通典籍,追求“复古”和“求真”提供了保障,促进了乾嘉经学全面而纵深的发展。总结乾嘉经学的治学方法和研究经验,正视训诂考证在研治经典中发挥的重要作用,并非回归传统的以训诂考据为中心的经学研究,而是当前进行儒家经典研究回望过去的必要条件。乾嘉学者经典研究中的一些学术理念如重视调查研究、反对孤证、强调材料的归纳和总结等,依然值得我们学习。当前我们进行经典研究除了要学习和借鉴西方的学术理论和方法,也要懂得一些基础的文字音韵训诂知识。这不仅有利于古代典籍的研究,而且有利于促进中国经典研究的进一步发展。

The transformation of Chinese traditional Confucian classics research has made exegesis a necessity and even a prerequisite to understanding Confucian classics,hence semantic exegesis became the main way for scholars to administer Confucian classics.The change in interpreting Confucian classics promoted the development of Chinese traditional minor study and brought the study of characters,phonology and exegesis to a peak,which changed traditional classics and further developed the Qian-Jia classics.This provided a guarantee for the Qian-Jia scholars in order to restore the ancient ways and seek the truth,and have a comprehensive and in-depth development.After summarizing the research methods and experience of the Qian-Jia scholars,a correct view is established to look at the important role of exegetical textual research in classics research.It is not going back to the traditional classics research which was centered on exegetical textual research,but becoming a necessary condition for the current Confucian classics research.Some academic concepts of Qian-Jia scholars,such as emphasis on investigation and research,opposition to single evidence,and emphasis on the induction and summary of materials,are still worth learning from.Nowadays,besides learning from Western theories and methods,we need to gain some basic phonological and exegetical knowledge,which is conducive to the research of ancient classics and their further development.