2015-2016 School of Chinese Research Student Seminar
晚清中國偵探小說的概念界定及本土化起源探究
The Concept Definition and Origin of Detective Fiction in Late Qing China
楊一女士 Ms Yang Yi
Date and Time: April 29, 2016 (Friday); 5:30-6:45pm
Venue: Room 730, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU
Language: Putonghua
同樣以犯罪為主題、描寫作案斷案,西方偵探小說與中國公案小說之間的關係如何。排除語言、國別等外在因素的影響，从文学的角度进行衡量，可否將公案小說定義為偵探小說的早期形式。自1896年偵探小說經翻譯傳入中國後，就一直存在爭議。文本從形式上無法蓋棺定論，中國偵探小說的起源也同樣眾說紛紜。
本研究將首先回顧“公案與偵探的文體之爭”，然後結合文體學的基本分類方法，從文學的功能、形態、題材和功用對公案小說和偵探小說進行界定。具體而言，即基於東西方不同的文學傳統、意識形態、文化精神等，從形象塑造、情節安排、表現手法、審美效果和創作動機等方面，較為全面地指出公案小說與偵探小說的不同特點。在區分對比的基礎上，反駁一些研究中將公案小說與偵探小說混為一談的觀點。基於公案與偵探小說各自的定義，重新檢視西方偵探小說翻譯、接受與本土化闡釋的歷時性過程。進一步指出哪些“晚清小說中接續傳統公案模式而又能推陳出新者”集合而成了中國偵探小說濫觴期的界碑，而具體哪一步作品，可以被視作中國本土原创偵探小說源點。
Known as both crime and how to resolve crime, what is the relationship between Western detective fiction and Chinese Gong’an fiction? Aside from outside influence, such as language or nationality, from a literary point of view, could Gong’an fiction be defined as the early form of detective fiction? After detective fiction was first introduced in translation to Chinese readers in 1896, there has been a long-standing debate about this issue.
The proposed seminar will first focus on controversy related to Gong’an fiction and detective fiction’s literary form, using basic classification methods of stylistics, form literary function, style, theme and usage to define differences between Western detective fiction and Chinese Gong’an fiction. The seminar will be based on literary tradition, ideology, ethos, and so on. Analysis of image-building, plot arrangement, expression technique, aesthetic results and creation motivation will show a more comprehensive understanding of different features of Gong’an fiction and detective fiction, stressing that detective fiction should not be confused with Chinese Gong’an fiction. Varied definitions will also provide analysis of Western importation of detective fiction into modern China and how it was explained, transformed and localised at the beginning of the 20th century. More importantly, identifying which fictions have become stale and bringing forth fresh literature could be treated as the monument, not only in terms of a process of nationalisation of detective fiction, but also a modernisation process of Chinese traditional culture. Furthermore, it will also address which Chinese detective fiction came first, as well as the rationale behind the aforementioned explanations.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
