论林语堂的纪实文学创作——兼谈林语堂的文学史地位问题

人们之所以在对林语堂的评价上产生分歧,林语堂之所以在文学史上无地位,首先是观念问题,其次是评价标准与学术视野问题。实际上,林语堂是继梁启超之后,致力于融汇中西文化,将中国传记文学推向现代化的标志性人物,在中国传记文学史上起了继往开来、承前启后的重要作用;他不仅开了以散文形式向西方传播中国文化的先路,而且也开了现代长篇纪实散文创作的先声。因此,单就纪实文学创作而言,林语堂就为中国文学作出了杰出贡献,在文学史上具有无可替代的重要地位。而如果联系小说等虚构文学创作,我们则更须重新评价林语堂的历史地位与文学成就。“林语堂现象”启示我们：在现当代文学史“重写”中,除了要更新以虚构为中心的传统观念与拓展海外华文文学的学科领域外,还须进一步解放思想,确立科学的史识、史观与评价标准。

On the Documentary Literature Creation of Lin Yutang Discussion on the Status of Lin Yutang in Literary History

The reason why people divide over the evaluation of Lin Yutang, and the absence of his position in the literary history appears to be the problem of conception, and the evaluation criteria as well as the academic vision. In fact, Lin Yutang was such an iconic figure who had been committed to the blending of Chinese and Western culture, and the modernization of Chinese biographical literature after Liang Qichao, which connected the past and future development of Chinese literature. He was not only such a pioneer who spread Chinese culture in the form of prose, but also an originator of modern long documentary prose. Therefore, in terms of documentary literature, Lin Yutang is such an outstanding contributor who possesses irreplaceable place in literary history. Moreover, taking fiction literature into consideration, we seriously need to reevaluate Lin''s historical status and his literary achievements. "Lin Yutang Phenomenon" shows that when rewriting modern and contemporary literature history, we should not only update traditional concept centered on fiction and expand the disciplinary fields of overseas Chinese literature, but also further emancipate our mind, while establishing scientific historical consciousness, concepts and evaluation criteria.