韓愈對時文的批評

韓愈批評的時文，可分為科舉時文與社會時文。面對科舉時文，韓愈除了最初的不以為意之外，從考進士科的挫敗開始，一直到晚年，他都持反對的態度。除了本身就不喜歡過度要求形式的體製之外，也無法接受應試文章內容的矯揉造作，考生無法直抒己意和有司擇取人才的標準不明。而面對社會上通行的駢文，韓愈也同樣排斥華美的文風，更對文章承載的內容與自己的審美觀幾乎完全悖反感到無奈，早期寫作駢文會覺得慚愧，但到了元和十四年(819)的〈潮州刺史謝上表〉中，韓愈表明願以時文為唐憲宗歌頌，實為一大轉折。不過到了長慶年間，韓愈鑑於科舉時文與社會時文會對一個人有長時間接續的負面影響，使人心委靡，而再度回到對二者皆不認同的立場上。

關鍵字

韓愈；古文；時文；科舉；駢文

並列摘要

Han-Yu's criticism on corny articles could be discussed in terms of two genres: the corny articles of imperial examination and the social corny articles. Han-Yu had been opposed to the corny articles of imperial examination throughout his life since he failed the shih exam, whereas he initially held a rather indifferent attitude toward it. He disliked the corny articles of imperial examination because of its overemphasis on the form and preciosity of the content; additionally, the examinees were refrained from expressing themselves bluntly, and there was a lack of clear and consistent requirements as to the matriculation. Faced with the prevailing parallel prose then, Han-Yu despised the overly elaborate literature, which was virtually contradictory to his creed. While young, Han-Yu was ashamed to write in parallel prose, but he later wrote in the ”Letter of Gratitude by Ch'ao-Chou Prefect” that he was willing to extol Tang Xianzong in social corny prose. It was indeed a dramatic turn in his life. However, considering the long-run negative and corruptive effects of the two types of corny articles on people, Han-Yu restored his disgust with corny articles at length.