蒋伯潜《文体论纂要》之方法论

The Methodology of Jiang Boqian's Compilation Essentials of Stylistic Theory

蒋伯潜《文体论纂要》是民国时期问世的十余部文体学专书中最为翔实、篇幅最大的,既汇集古今众说又有自己的裁断,堪称民国时期集大成的文体论著作。著者站在民族文化本位立场吸纳新知的理路、方法,尤其值得称道。他认为,文体论“是说明的科学,非轨范的科学”,绝不能“演绎使用”西方现代的某种理论或“原理、原则、类目”,“强古人以从我”,而“须就历代已有的作品,比较同异,归纳综合”,“整理归纳出一种足资说明的系统来”。他执此评判古今学者的文体论,并兼容新旧、沟通中西,将狭义的文章与文学并列,构建了包含古往今来中国文体全貌的新的分类系统。分论诸体时,他溯源穷流、以正名实,既明特征,也点作法,特别注意区辨名非实是和名是实非的文章或文体。书末还附论风格,“力求具体”。这些,在当下颇有纠偏补弊意义,可以为“三大体系”建设提供启示。

Jiang Boxian's(蒋伯潜)Compilation Essentials of Stylistic Theory(《文体论纂要》)was the largest and most detailed one of the over ten books on stylistics published during the period of the Republic of China.This book not only gathered ancient and modern theories on stylistics,but also had its own judgments,making it a comprehensive work of stylistic theories during that period.The author's approach and methods of absorbing new knowledge from the perspective of national culture are particularly commendable.He believes that stylistic theory is"an explanatory science,instead of a normative science",and we can never"deduce and apply"a certain Western modern theory,"rationale,principle,or category"to"force the ancients to follow us".We"must base ourselves on the existing works of the past generations,compare their similarities and dissimilarities,make inferences and summaries",and"sort out and form a system that is sufficient for explanation".On this basis,he judged the stylistic theories of ancient and modern scholars,made the ancient views compatible with the modern ones,and linked the Eastern views with the Western ones.He juxtaposed narrowly-defined articles with literary works,and constructed a new classification system that included the whole picture of Chinese stylistics from ancient times to the present.When discussing various styles,he traced back to their sources and made their names conform with the realities.He not only clarified their characteristics,but also pointed out their methods.Besides,he paid special attention to distinguishing the articles and their styles whose names were not in conformity with realities(名非实是),from those whose realities were not in conformity with their names(名是实非).At the end of this book,there are also attached remarks about the style,""striving to be specific".These are of great significance in correcting deviations and making up disadvantages at present,and can provide inspiration for the construction of the""three major systems".