宛转相承:骈文文句的一种接续方式

《文心雕龙.丽辞》曾举出《周易》中的几种对偶方式,其中一种被称之为“宛转相承”,实际上就是多层(三层以上)对偶相连续,而每层对偶的上下联分别依次相承接、相对应。这种方式起源颇早,而较普遍地运用,则在魏晋以后。这与骈文萌芽、形成、发展的进程一致。值得注意的是,在魏晋、南朝的玄学、佛学论文中,此种方式相当发达。这表明它与说理的需要、与古人的逻辑思维颇有关系。骈文自魏晋时代成型之后,占据文坛统治地位达八百年之久。它不仅用于所谓审美性质的创作,而且普遍使用于政治、学术、社会生活等许多场合。因此,不但研究古代语言和文学,而且研究古代政治、历史、哲学以至社会风俗等,都必须读懂骈文。对于骈文、骈偶句式的语法修辞,包括其文句的接续方式,加以分析,是很有必要的。

Close association like reciprocally twined:A mode of phrase combination and continuation in the parallel prose

The Marvelous Variety and The Gorgeous Literary Grace in The Dragon Carved in the Heart of Literature (《文心雕龙·丽辞》) adduces several modes of antithesis in The Book of Change(《周易》), among which there is one called “Wan zhuan xiang cheng”(close association like reciprocally twined). Actually it is namely multi-layer (three layers plus) antithesis combination and continuation, and the first and the second lines of a couplet of the antithesis of each layer continue and parallel respectively as well as in turn. This mode emerged rather early, though it was not wildly applied until the Wei and Jin periods. This was in accord with the course of sprouting, taking shape, and developing of the parallel prose. It is noteworthy that this mode was quite prevalent during the Wei and Jin periods in the discourses of metaphysical and Buddhist subjects. It indicates that this mode relates tightly to the ancient logical thought and argumentation. Since it took shape during the Wei and Jin periods, the parallel prose had reigned in the literary world for as long as 800 years. It was applied not only to the so-called aesthetic composing, but widely to many situations such as politics, academic world and social life. Consequently, a knowledge of the parallel prose helps not only in the study of ancient language and literature but also in the study of ancient politics, history and philosophy, even ancient social custom, etc., hence the necessity of analyzing the syntax and rhetorical means of the parallel prose and the modes of antithesis, which include the mode of phrase combination and continuation.