“文之道,时为大”——刘熙载美学思想散论之四

The Secret of Literary Writing Lies in the Suitability to the Occasion——On Liu Xizai's Aesthetic Ideology(IV)

刘熙载《艺概》提出了"文之道,时为大"的观点,这是一种强调合于时宜、因时制变的文艺美学观。"文之道,时为大"的思想体系,首先表现为对"时"的重视,反对复古,而提倡将"学古"与"观时"结合起来;同时,它又关注"时"与"道"的关系,要求在变化中把握规律,将"因时"与"用中"结合起来。在方法论上,这一文艺美学观主张以融会贯通的整体思维模式和与时俱进的创新意识来完成对文艺作品的创作、审美,经由"通变"而实现因时制宜。

In his Generalization of Art, Liu Xizai put forward an idea of 'the secret of literary writing lies in the suitability to the occasion.' It is a literary and artistic aesthetic ideology that emphasizes on the proper time and change in accordance with time. This ideology accentuates the 'timing', opposes to restoration to the past, and advocates the combination of 'learning from the past' and 'focusing on the present'. Simultaneously, it also stresses the relationship between 'timing' and 'way', requires to understand the rules in the change, and combines the 'proper time' with 'proper action'.Methodologically, this ideology maintains that literary works should be created and appreciated with unified thinking and innovative consciousness.