中国古代文论内在体系论 : 从一张三棱锥图表谈起

在中西比较视野中对中国古代文论体系开展系统的共时和历时研究，具体分四大步骤进行。第一步分析四个文论类型 (文学论、创作论、理解论、审美论) 的结构关系，借助三棱锥图展示四者之间纵横交错的关联，进而确定整体思维 (holistic thinking) 为中国文论的统一原则。第二步进入肌理层次，检验整体思维原则是否也贯穿四大文论类型之下各种具体论说。第三步再深入到术语层次，探究此原则如何影响乃至决定文论术语生成模式和演变途径。第四步接着开展历时研究，揭示四大文论类型历史发展的动力与轨迹。共时和历时研究证明，整体性思维原则统摄了古代文论方方面面，使之形成一个繁富庞大的有机体系。所谓中国文论无系统、模糊多变的观点是错误的，是按照西方文论范式来评价中国文论的产物。以整体思维为圭臬的文论范式，不仅是中华民族的，也是世界的。以之为参照，西方文论研究者可以发现自己的传统并非普世，而是带有其自身的文化特征。

This paper seeks to discover the inherent system of Chinese literary theory through synchronic and diachronic studies, undertaken in four steps. The first step is to analyze the complex structural relationship of four major types of literary theory (on literature, literary creation, interpretation, and aesthetic judgment) respectively with a triangular pyramid, leading to a discovery of holistic thinking as the all-unifying principle of Chinese literary theory. The second step is to observe how on the textural level holistic thinking enables critics to freely cross or leap over the borders between the four coordinates of criticism ( universe, writer, work, reader) and develop numerous distinctive theories associated with the four coordinates. The third step is to demonstrate how holistic thinking undergirds the dynamic, richly polysemous use of critical terms, characterized by the simultaneous application of the same terms or term-clusters to multiple realms of literary phenomena. The fourth and last step switches to diachronic studies, as it seeks to identify the tensions and forces driving the historical development of the four major types of literary theory through all ages. These synchronic and diachronic studies reveal an inherent system characterized by an organic integration of all elements of Chinese literary theory on three intertwining vertical tiers: structural, textural, and terminological. This revelation should debunk the long-held misconception of Chinese literary theory as haphazard and systemless and invite a fruitful dialogue between Western and Chinese critical traditions.