想象的“禁忌”:神怪小说在晚清的中落、续衍及转换

The Taboo of Imagination:The Decline,Continuity,and Transformation of the Late Qing Dynasty Supernatural Novels

发源于本土的神怪小说传衍至晚清却迎来了它的“终结期”,一方面是书评家们对其犀利而直接的猛然批判,另一方面则是创作者们的“集体噤声”与刻意规避,由此形成了想象的“禁忌”。神怪小说中落的原因与科学话语的传入、义和团事件的爆发以及小说界革命的倡导有关,但其自身的叙事特点与审美特性,以及中国本土巨大的接受惯性,又使得它从“彻底的终结”转向了“可能的再生”,并召唤小说家们开启重新利用传统神怪资源进行创作的新尝试。在通过“有意误读”或“故事新编”等方式重新获得接受的同时,晚清神怪小说亦在向新类型渗透转换的过程中,呈现出颇具现代意义的新面貌。

The Dynasty Supernatural novels,which originated locally,came to an end in the late Qing Dynasty due to both harsh criticism from book critics and deliberate avoidance by the creators.The decline of the Dynasty Supernatural novels is attributed to the introduction of scientific discourse,the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion,and the advocacy of revolution in literature.However,due to their narrative characteristics and aesthetic properties,as well as huge acceptance within Chinese local community,these novels were able to transform from decline towards regeneration.This called for novelists to make new attempts at reusing traditional resources for creative works.While regaining acceptance through misinterpretation or adaptation,the Late Qing Dynasty Supernatural novels are also transforming into new genres with modern significance.