中国古代小说批评中的“谈助”说及其理论义涵

The Interpretation of“Tan Zhu”in Ancient Chinese Novel Criticism and Its Theoretical Implications

中国古代小说批评中所谓“谈助”,即作为闲谈助兴的语料,是关于小说意图与功能的系列术语。这些术语的提出基于古代小说口传耳听的生成与传播语境,又主要集中在小说的传播与接受方面。从内容上看,物事、史事、怪事、故事等“事”皆可助谈,“谈助”说指向的是小说文本的博闻与尚趣特性。除认识、娱乐功能外,借各种事象助谈,还可以促成人际间的共情与同理,如同“诗可以群”的风教论,颇具“稗可以群”的命意。传统小说批评中的“谈助”说是古人立足生活经验而提出的一种小说功用观念,它不仅体现了小说之“小”的价值定位,更呼应了小说的“趣谈”本质,值得关注。

The term“Tan Zhu”,which serves to enliven conversations or casual talks,refers to a series of terms related to the intentions and functions of novels in ancient Chinese novel criticism.These terms are based on the oral transmission and dissemination context of ancient novels,and primarily focus on the aspects of novel distribution and reception.In terms of content,various themes,such as material affairs,historical events,strange occurrences,and stories,can all serve as topics for conversations and talks.The concept of“Tan Zhu”points to the characteristics of novel texts being rich in knowledge and pleasing in interest.Beyond the functions of cognition and entertainment,using various phenomena to assist in conversation can also promote empathy and sympathy among individuals,akin to the concept that“poetry can gather people”,echoing the idea that“novels can gather people”.The concept of“Tan Zhu”in traditional novel criticism represents an understanding of the function of novels based on the life experiences of ancient people.It not only reflects the value positioning of novels as“small”but also resonates with the“pleasurable conversation”essence of novels,making it worthy of attention.