论中国文学史的著述文体

Genres of Chinese Literary History Writing

纪传体、编年体和纪事本末体,是中国古代历史著述的三种主要编写体例,也是编撰中国文学通史的三种主要文体。作为教材的中国文学通史,几乎都以纪传体写成,其主体是作家作品,也包括文体流变和文学风尚的系统梳理;它是现代教育的产物,与之相关的评价标准,也是在现代教育的背景下逐渐形成的,刘大杰《中国文学发展史》的成功,应从这个角度来加以理解。纪事本末体以《哥伦比亚中国文学史》较为典型,它以专题讲述的方式建构全书,主要包括诗、文、小说、戏曲、文学批评、民间文学等文类,开篇还有长逾十万字的基础编,是对中国文学史所赖以生长的语言和思想所作的专题分析;编年体以《剑桥中国文学史》较为典型,由时间点切入,而不是由作家作品或学术专题切入,构成其显著特点。《哥伦比亚中国文学史》《剑桥中国文学史》只是学术著作,而不是教材,其价值和得失应从这个角度来加以认识。

Biannianti编年体(annal),jizhuanti纪传体(chronical)and jishibenmoti纪事本末体(major events)are the three main literary genres of ancient Chinese historical writings,and they are also the three main genres used in compiling a general history of Chinese literature.Almost all textbooks on general history of Chinese literature are written in annalistic style,with the main content focusing on writers and their works,as well as a systematical analysis of genre evolution and literary trends.These textbooks are products of modern education,and the evaluation criteria of writing have gradually evolved within this context.It is from thie perspective that The Development History of Chinese Literarure中国文学发展史by Liu Dajie刘大杰has achieved a success.The style of jishibenmoti is exemplified by The Columbia History of Chinese Literature,which constructs the entire book in a thematic narrative style,primarily including diverse literary genres such as poetry,prose,fiction,drama,literary criticism,and folk literature.It begins with a foundational section of over a hundred thousand words,which provides a thematic analysis of the language and ideas that form the basis of Chinese literary history.The chronological style is exemplified by The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature,which approaches the subject through specific time periods rather than focusing on individual writers or academic themes,constituting its distinctive feature.The Columbia History of Chinese Literature and The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature are academic works rather than textbooks,and their value and shortcomings should be understood from this perspective.