學問家的革命與傳統的發明──以章太炎《齊物論釋》為例

The Revolution of A Scholar and the Inventionof Tradition─Zhang Taiyan’s 章太炎Interpreting the Qiwulun《齊物論釋》

知識分子調動傳統中的非主流因素以營救當代的文化危機的同時，往往為傳統再次注入新生的血氣。作為學問家的章太炎曾在中華帝制瓦解的時代邊緣，重新指認、復甦歷史上說經與說諸子的經典詮釋精神。若說胡適的新學為傳統開闢活路，啟蒙了樸學，章太炎則修古更新，促使傳統學術之道再編成，顯題化長久以來訓詁與義理在絕對性與優先性之爭上的隱性對峙，為各自找到合理的存在價值與功能。本文以《齊物論釋》為例，嘗試疏理作為革命家的章太炎，如何經由對於〈齊物論〉的取捨與詮釋，與歷史相互貞定。指出章氏對於悠久的經典詮釋，曾經進行認識論意義上的判教（說經與說諸子間的連續與斷裂），同時提取傳統思考資源（從語言批判到政治批判），以應時適變，充分表現傳統面對、指導當務之急的歷史可能。學問家的革命不僅發明了傳統，更啟蒙了啟蒙。

When non-mainstream factors of an existing tradition are used to solve a contemporary cultural crisis, this tradition often becomes reinvigorated and attains renewed vitality. During the period when imperial China was on the verge of collapse, Zhang Taiyan sought to revive the Chinese hermeneutic spirit through his reinterpretation of the classics and pre-Qin philosophy. If we accept the claim that the New Learning promoted by Hu Shih 胡適 provided tradition with a new lease on life and gave inspiration to “Evidential Learning”, then we can also assert that Zhang Taiyan’s reinterpretation of the classics contributed to an overhaul of traditional scholarship and revealed the long-standing confrontation between etymological and philosophical approaches in a way that discovered the function and value of each. This scholastic revolution did not merely “invent” a new tradition; it also inspired the Chinese “Enlightenment” movement as well. Taking this as a point of departure, this article examines the theoretical resources and intellectual approaches of the Qiwulun《齊物論》, and investigates the pivotal role played by this text in Zhang’s revolutionary thought and the history of modern China. Zhang’s interpretation of the Qiwulun did more than just offer a fresh perspective on an old tradition; it proffered innovative ideas for responding to a world in flux.