商務印書館曾於1904年12月6日公開徵求描述「工商現狀,述現時工商實在之情事,詳其不能制勝之故,以籌改良之法」的實業小說。由姬文所著,於1905年開始連載的《市聲》,便是基於上述目的,通過商務印書館徵文競賽活動的作品,亦是現存中國文壇上第一部自著實業小說。本文以「實業小說在地先聲:《市聲》對晚清『商戰思維』的修正與反思」為題,觀察晚清文壇意圖於小說此一文類之下,創造特定書寫題材之舉措,聚焦此作如何展演藝文界對於商戰議題之回應與反思,並凝聚藝文界對此時代思潮的應對策略,以及《市聲》一作在題材處理的創新性與文學價值,藉此開拓晚清小說研究版圖與視野。
On December 6, 1904, the Commercial Press publicly solicited industrial novels that "described the status quo of industry and commerce, discussed the current dilemmas faced by businesses, delved into their failures, and sought feasible solutions". The story Shi Sheng, written by Ji Wen and first serialized in 1905, stood out in the competition of the Commercial Press and became the first industrial novel in the history of Chinese literature. With "Pioneer of Industrial Novels: Shi Sheng's Rectification of and Reflection on 'Saving the Nation by Boosting Business' in the Late Qing Dynasty" as its title, this article offers insight into the special themes of the novels of the late Qing literary community. This article focuses on how Ji Wen's work shows the response and reflection of the literary and art community on the pressing reform of industry and commerce, summarizes the solutions of intellectuals to deal with current thought at that time, and shows the creativity and literary value of the manner in which Shi Sheng handles its subject matter. This article thereby opens up the scope and perspective of research on the late Qing novel.