後現代主義與經典詮釋

Postmodernism and the Chinese Hermeneutic Tradition

對於經典詮釋的比較研究，在中、英文世界都已有了不少論著。本文力圖從比較的角度，探討後現代主義與經典詮釋之間的關係。文章共分三個部分。第一部分簡略介紹西方1960年代以來，後現代主義思潮的興起及其對學術研究的影響。第二部分分析後現代主義對西方經典詮釋的具體影響，並以西方學者對猶太教和基督教經典的研究加以說明。第三部分以清代學者趙翼的作品為例，探討以後現代主義重新檢視中國史學、經學傳統的可能性。作者認為，從現代以來，中國學者對傳統的態度，大致為現代西方學術所左右。研究後現代主義能幫助我們突破這一藩籬，以新的立場認識中國文化的傳統及其價值。

From a comparative perspective, this essay explores the possibility of applying postmodernist approach to hermeneutic study. It first analyzes the rise of postmodernism in modern West and its impact on Western scholarship in general and hermeneutic study in particular. It then presents a few examples to show how postmodernism influences the interpretations of Judaic and Christian classics by Western scholars. In its last part, the essay examines the work of Qing scholar Zhao Yi from a postmodern perspective and argues that with a postmodern approach, we can re-present the rich tradition of Chinese culture and its historical value from a different angle.