“神韵”与“性灵”的消长——康、乾之际诗学观念嬗变之迹

康熙至乾隆之间诗学的嬗变,显示为一个王渔洋神韵诗学被扬弃而袁枚性灵诗学逐渐主导诗坛的过程。其间重要的契机是叶燮诗学由其门人沈德潜和薛雪传播、发挥,在江南诗坛产生重大影响。以薛雪、黄子云、吴雷发为代表的江南诗论家将叶燮诗学中自成一家的思想作了进一步的推进,而查为仁、桑调元等另外一些诗人则激活了古老的性灵概念,在雍正至乾隆初的一段时间,为性灵诗学的发展造好了舆论声势,做好了理论准备。这些人物都与袁枚有着不同程度的关系,其诗学也为袁枚所熟悉,作为性灵诗学的前驱,有必要从诗学史的角度对其历史意义加以重新认识。

The Rise of the Theory of Romantic Charm and the Fall of the Theory of Smart Personality:the Transformation of Poetics from Kangxi to Qianlong

The transformation of poetics between the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong showed the process in which Yuan Mei’s poetics of smart personality gradually predominated the poetic circles while Wang Yuyang’s poetics of romantic charm was abandoned.The key turning point was that Ye Xie’s poetics was developed and disseminated by his disciples Shen Deqian and Xue Xue and exerted a great influence in the poetic circles of the south-of-the-Yangtze area.The poetic critics represented by Xue Xue,Huang Ziyun and Wu Lei in this area expounded on the thinking of Ye Xie’s poetics,while such poets as Zha Weiren,Sang Tiaoyuan and others activated the ancient concept of smart personality.Between the reigns of Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong,public opinions were formed and theoretical preparations were made for the development of the poetics of smart personality.Yuan Mei was acquainted with these people in different degrees and also familiar with their poetic theories.These people acted as the forerunners of the poetics of smart personality.So it is necessary for us to have a new understanding of their historic significance from the perspective of poetic history.