近代词、曲研究的双璧——读王国维和吴梅的词、曲论著

TWIN MODERN MASTER CRITICS OF CI AND QU

王国维和吴梅都是中国近代的词、曲研究大家。作者认为,他们两人的成就和贡献是难分轩轾的。王国维的《中国戏曲考》是我国戏曲史之滥觞,尤对元戏评价精当;而吴梅的《中国戏曲概论》则弥补了王国维的不足,不仅指出了明、清戏曲嬗变的特点,还阐述了戏曲盛衰的规律,且能结合作家作品阐微索隐,语多中的,对人启发颇多。王国维《人间词话》影响很大,但终因其研究词的时间不长,故在强调'境界'说和对词人的评价上多有偏颇;而吴梅毕其一生工于词曲的研究、创作,情况自然有所不同,他的《词学通论》熔理论、历史、创作于一炉,对词人及各个时代词的成就的评价也较公允。

Wang Guowei (1877—1927) and Wu Mei (1884—1939) were master critics of ci and qu, Chinese classical genres of Poetry strict patterns and irregular line lengths,some meant for singing or drammatic performance. The author highly appraises both of them for their accomplishments and contributions to this field of study. Being the very source of the traditional opera of our country, Wang's Study of China's Dramatic Poetry contains precise and appropriate comments notably on the opera of the Yuan Dynasty, whereas in his Intrduction to China's Dramatic Poetry, Wu remedied some defects and gaps in Wang's book, not only pointing out the characteristics of the changing trend of the opera form through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but also setting forth the laws of its ups and downs. Moreover, he made subtle and enlightening points in Wang's Talk About ci in Man's World is a very influential work. But Wang studied ci for a comparatively short time, and there are biased views in his emphasis on 'realms' and appraisal of ci poets. Wu, on the other hand, devoted all his life to the study and creation of ci and qu poetry. His General Survey of ci Poetry, though less known, combines theory, history and creation, and is fairer in judging ci poets and the ci poetry of different times.