疑古與證古──從康有為到王國維

Abstract

康有為偽古文經之說和王國維之證立古文經，看似相對的立場，其實寓有經學、史學的不同目的。康有為樹起反對古文經的旗幟，主要為了發揚今文經「三統」、「三世」說的變易哲學，好通過援經議政來達到變法訴求；雖寓有政治目的，但終歸是「尊今抑古」的今、古文之爭與經學範疇內的今文經立場。王國維則主要針對「偽古文」說風行以後所導致的疑古風氣，期能有所導正，因此他通過結合小學、古文字學和文獻記載的經史互證方式，以證立孔子壁中書和古文經來辨正偽古文說，發揚史學的求真精神。嚴格說來，其非對於經學範疇內的今、古文義理優劣或興衰消長的發展關懷；不過就其所辨正的結果以及發揮的影響力而言，則又確然是對於經學範疇內古文經學的有力辯證。而通過對康有為到王國維的古文觀考察，正可以對清末民初以來的疑古之風進行溯源與流變的觀察，可以為晚清到民國的經學發展與今、古文之盛衰演變，補充一具體明確之史學線索。

From late Ching to Early Minkuo, Kang you-wei viewed Book of Ancient Texts as pseudograph while Wang kuo-wei acknowledged Book of Ancient Texts. These two views seem contradictory with each individual purpose in classics and historical study. The aim of Kang you-wei’s efforts to defy Book of Ancient Texts is to encourage the revolutionary changes suggested in Book of New Texts so that political reform could be initiated through political debates. Despite its political purpose, Kang’s view sided with Book of New Texts, which defy all classical ways. Wang Kuo-wei corrected the established questioning tendency about classical ways, by establishing interacting proofs found in small Learning, ancient etymology, and literature reviews, and by authenticating the trueness of Confucian relic as well as Book of Ancient Texts. Although he didn’t show much concerns about strengths and weakness nor the rise of fall of Books of New Texts and Book of Ancient Texts, the accomplishment of his authentication is of great influence in the study of classics. Kang you-wei’s and Wang kuo-wei’s doctrines help the record of development of questioning tendency from late Ching to early Minkuo, providing a specific historical clue of the rise and fall of Book of New Texts and Books of Ancient Texts, as well as the development of classics study.