清代學術之「開端」

“Starting point” in Qing Dynasty Scholarship

本文主論「清代學術」之史述傳統中諸書揭為「開端」之義。大旨在數端：其一、論江藩之首記《國朝漢學師承記》及其影響於章太炎、梁啟超之〈清儒〉與「清代學術史」者，並指出章、梁清學史觀之近代意義。其二、徐世昌《清儒學案》及其以降諸新編、重編學案之「首卷」問題。其三、無論何種學術體裁，皆須向一代之史匯歸，以成記往之史，俾可流諸將來。是故有清一代之學術，於「清史」中係屬〈儒林傳〉之傳體承擔此任，由「國史」而「清史稿」，復由「稿」而至「清史」，無論是新編抑或舊式，體例與義例之商略，終是寫史者所必究，因之「開端」之義亦「正史儒林傳」所當究心之一端。

This paper focuses on discussing the significance of the term “starting point” as revealed in the books of the narrative history tradition of Qing period scholarship. Firstly it explores Jiang Fan’s 江藩 first record Guochao hanxue shicheng ji 國朝漢學師承記, its influence on Zhang Taiyan 章太炎 and Liang Qichao’s 梁啟超 essay “Qing Confucians 清儒” and the history of Qing scholarship, and also the modern significance of Zhang and Liang’s views on history. Secondly it examines Xu Shichang’s 徐世昌 The Lives and Thought of Qing Confucians 清儒學案, and the “first chapter problem” found with edited and re-edited editions since then. Thirdly it notes that all scholarly genres must be absorbed into the official history of a period in order to become part of a remembered history that can be passed down into the future. The “Biographies of Confucian Scholars 儒林傳” genre fulfils this task in Qing dynastic history, from Guo Shi 國史 to Qing Shigao 清史稿, and finally to the official dynastic history. Regardless of the edition, in the end it is the discussion of style and scope that history writers must study carefully. The significance of “starting points” in the biographies of Confucian scholars in official dynastic history are therefore also aspects central to this research.