方苞、李绂异同与清代古文理论的嬗递

The Divergences and Convergences of Fang Bao and Li Fu in the Evolution of Qing Dynasty Classical Prose Theory

方苞、李绂是康熙后期至乾隆前期齐名的两大古文宗师。方、李论文继承清初古文“返雅崇正”的基本取向,强调古文的载道功能,主张取法唐宋大家,以倡言“文禁”完成对晚明文风的系统批判,为古文达于“雅正”提供具体的方案。与此同时,二人又围绕比喻、叠句、援引古事、减字、换字等修辞技法是否应入“文禁”等问题有过直接争论,表现出对唐宋大家师法和古文形式与内容关系的不同认知。他们的论争在清代中期产生了重要回响,方苞无疑拥有众多的仿效者,但李绂关于文例的见解实际上获得了更多的认同,原因是进入清中叶,汉学家重视考据的声音日益影响“雅正”内涵的具体走向,导致古文理论走向的扭转。

Fang Bao and Li Fu are two renowned masters of classical Chinese prose during the late Kangxi and early Qianlong periods.Their writings continued the early Qing dynasty's tradition of“returning to elegance and upholding correctness,”which emphasized the moral and didactic function of classical prose.They advocated for following the examples set by the Tang and Song dynasty masters and introduced the concept of“wenjin”—a series of prohibitions against certain problematic writing techniques and stylistic choices that they deemed inappropriate for classical prose.Fang and Li's efforts aimed to systematically critique the literary style of the late Ming period and provide concrete methods for achieving“elegance and correctness”in prose.However,the two engaged in direct debates over whether certain rhetorical techniques,such as metaphor,antithesis,citation of ancient events,word reduction,and word substitution,should be included in these restrictions.Their debates revealed differing interpretations of the Tang and Song masters and divergent views on the relationship between form and content in classical prose.These discussions resonated significantly during the mid-Qing period.Although Fang Bao had more followers,Li Fu's perspectives on specific literary examples gained broader acceptance.This shift reflects the growing influence of scholars focused on textual research,which increasingly shaped the meaning of“elegance and correctness”and contributed to a transformation in the theoretical direction of classical prose during this period.