《儒林外史》原貌問題新論

A New Discussion on the Original Structure of the Rulin waishi

葉楚炎(YE Chuyan)

《饒宗頤國學院院刊》 8期 (2021/09) Pp. 367-395

摘要

縱觀學界對於《儒林外史》原貌問題的現有研究可以看到，受到學者集中質疑的郭孝子、蕭雲仙、湯鎮台等故事不僅在很多方面與《儒林外史》其他部分相比都有較大的差異，並且它們自身又有自成脈絡的整體特徵。而隨著近來甯楷〈《儒林外史》題辭〉的發現，以及他作為武書的原型、更可能是「幽榜」一回的增補者等觀點的提出，則為原貌問題的研究提供了新的契機。從〈《儒林外史》題辭〉中對於「虎竹龍沙」之事的提及入手，聯繫甯楷的生平和詩文作品可以看到：甯楷的思想、意趣、情感、經歷、寄託等與《儒林外史》中那些可疑的故事之間存在著諸多微妙的契合，此外，甯楷增補的「幽榜」一回和那些可疑的故事也同樣存在著密切的關聯。因此，「幽榜」一回的增補不是孤立的事件，而是源於那些可疑故事的出現，甯楷很有可能便是這些可疑故事的增補者。

關鍵字

《儒林外史》 ； 原貌 ； 甯楷 ； 增補

並列摘要

In view of previous scholarship on the characters in the Rulin waishi 儒林外史 or The Scholars by Wu Jingzi 吳敬梓 (1701-1754) and their real-life counterparts, the episodes concerning Guo the Filial Son, Xiao Yunxian, Magistrate Tang, and some other characters are most often than not subject to doubt. The authorship of the related chapters is frequently questioned by scholars because these chapters not only show a high degree of consistency in terms of style and content but also differ substantially from the rest of the novel in various aspects. In recent years, research on the novel has been significantly advanced by the discovery of a colophon written for the Yurin waishi by Ning Kai 甯楷 (1712-1801) and the hypothesis that Ning is both the real-life counterpart of the character Wu Shu and the author of the supplementary finale ＂You bang＂ (List of scholars in the nether world). Based on the ＂fighting in the battlefield＂ motif that appears in the colophon and in light of Ning Kai's life and works, we can draw some fascinating connections between Ning - including his ideas, disposition, sentiments, ambition, and experience - and the dubious chapters that are inconsistent with the general narrative arc. Furthermore, the chapter ＂You bang＂ most likely supplemented by Ning Kai also has a close affinity with those episodes. Hence, we can reasonably infer that the supplementation of the ＂You bang＂ chapter is not an isolated event but a natural consequence of all the dubious episodes being inserted throughout the novel after the author passed away by none other than Ning himself.

並列關鍵字

Rulin waishi ； original structure ； Ning Kai (1712-1801) ； supplementation