比较文学是近代一门新兴的交叉型学科，首先由丹麦学者勃兰兑斯提出，在世界范围内刚刚经由大约一百年的发展历程。在经历了几次学术危机后，又以顽强的生命力继续向新的台阶进取，而且被越来越多的人所认识和接受，开始从纯学术领地过渡到一门独立的大众化学科。
长期以来，比较文学在人们的意识中还未能形成一个明确的概念，比较文学界的学者及其同仁们众说纷纭，各执其见，在其定义问题上也未能达成一致意见。为使读者对其有一初步印象，我且借鉴来自北京语言文化大学的“学院派”代表人物王宁教授和北京师范大学王向远教授的观点，加上我在涉猎过程的一些朦胧的意识，为其做一个粗略的注解。我认为，比较文学决不等同于一种纯文学，它是建立在跨学科基础上，对文学进行跨语言、跨文化、跨民族的“超文学研究”，并将这种广泛的研究成果融入文学领域，以拓宽文学创作范围、深化文学创作主题，促进文学更好地发挥其在社会与人生中作用为主要目的的一门学科。它是世界各民族间广泛交流、现代人类知识文明繁荣发展、人类思维开阔、创造力勃发的产物，它的发展必然会促使各民族更加亲密接触，学科间联系加强，未来的文化领域更加繁荣昌盛，文学也必将进入一个前所未有的新时代。下面我就几个方面略谈一下我之鄙见。
比较文学在中国
根据一些评论家的观点，中国的比较文学意识大约开始于20世纪初鲁迅先生翻译日本文学时期。但严格说来，其步入正规发展道路却只有二三十年的时间。从1983年，中国首次出席国际比较文学学术研讨大会，1985年，中国国内设立比较文学理事会，到1993年，北京大学首次授予比较文学博士学位，中国的比较文学事业经历了三个阶段的重大变迁与发展，取得了显著的成绩。中国的一些学者和教授为其成长与发展进行了艰苦的探索，其中以北京大学已故的翰教授为代表的一些学者专家为比较文学事业在中国的土壤上扎根写下了开山之笔；文学界与翻译界鼎力协作，取得了研究与学术上的初步成果；一些作家在创作中也不断从中汲取营养，得到启发。比较文学在国内得到越来越多人的认可与青睐,许多大学与学院相继开设世界文学与比较文学专业，并设立专门研究所。资深教授们对其进行更深的探讨并出版专著，一个更为广阔的学术领域出现在国人面前。
发展中存在的问题
根据马克思主义的观点，事物总是在矛盾中发展，任何新事物的成长过程必然伴随着诸多矛盾和问题。比较文学作为一门新兴学科，也必然存在诸多不完善的地方。
首先是阅读译著与原著之间的矛盾。再伟大的翻译家在翻译外来作品时也总是不可避免的会出现诸多缺漏误译之处，因此要想全面准确地理解作品并对其进行深入的分析与研究，势必要求研究者具有较高的双语或多语水平。而目前国内存在的问题是，大部分研究者根本不懂外语或多外语知之甚少，而那些具有较高外语水平的人又缺乏相应的中国语言文学素养，这无疑造成一种尴尬局面，当然，这与目前我国教育制度的弊端有很大关系，有待于未来一代新人的努力。
其次是批评界和理论界在某些方面出现过激倾向和失之偏颇现象。前面我已讲过说比较文学研究目的最终还要回到文学创作领域，而有的评论家却一味热衷于作家创作的影响来源，甚至由此否定了作家个人的独创性。我们评论任何事物都要有相关的理论与事实依据，或许某某作家写出的作品有与某大师的创作类似的痕迹，我们不否认其受影响的可能性，但我们更不应该忽视人各有创造力，如果没有任何事实的关联，而盲目的评论作品的雷同性势必会影响创作的积极性，从而偏离了比较文学研究之目的与任务。试想，大师在未成大师之前，其创造的理念与成果也全是在效仿前任大师么？在“意识流”出现之前，詹姆斯-乔伊斯又从何效仿，如果让?保尔?萨特不产生存在主义理念，那麽有谁敢保证不会有另一个“萨特”创作出存在主义哲学著作？我们目前也决不能说印度的泰姬陵的建设灵感是来自印度国王当时听说了中国始皇为爱妃建阿房宫一事。研究作家创作之间的影响本身有助于文学的发展，也有利于后来者从前辈那里受到启发。但我认为我们还是应该提防上面所提到的失当之处，以防其消极的影响。
再次是对诗学研究重视不够，纵观世界文学史，追根溯源，最初的文学作品往往是以歌诗的形式出现。诗歌中包含着丰富的内涵，向人类展示了一幅无比宏大的社会人生画面，它最初的创造者和接受者大多来自广大农民，并且，世界上各个国家的文学作品大多留有早期伟大史诗的痕迹。像印度的《摩诃婆罗多》和《罗摩衍那》对后世影响之深度和广度是不可估量的，连西方最早的神话、史诗甚至被称为西方文化渊源的《圣经》都能找到其影响的痕迹。我国长期以来翻译了大量的外国小说、戏剧作品并对其进行了深入的研究，而诗歌的翻译数量和质量上大都不尽人满意。我们加强对诗学的研究比较一方面会大大丰富我们的文化，另一方面促进诗歌间的交流沟通，从而促进国内诗学的发展。为什么诗歌发展到今日只能成为高雅知识分子的高级消费品，尤其是在当今市场经济条件下，读诗与写诗简直成了一种奢侈。有人干脆说，这个时代就没有真正的诗人，那些所谓的诗全是些无病呻吟；有人预言，中国再也不会出现唐诗宋词那样的高度繁容景象，这不能不说是诗学界的最大悲哀。除去社会现实的因素，最大的问题还应归咎于诗学界本身，现代诗歌变得愈来愈高深莫测扑朔迷离，诗歌似乎成了一种神秘的象征，国内诗学研究者寥寥无几，评论界干脆对此保持沉默。的确，诗歌在现实中市场很小，但作为人类高度智慧的结晶，我们无法忽视它的重要作用，一个没有诗歌的国家势必会走向衰亡。我常常有这样一种奇想，作为诗歌，它是人类伟大心灵的歌唱，可以和歌，可以伴舞，可以配乐。如果把当今歌坛上那些无聊至极又颇有市场的哼唱进行诗性的创新，对劳动人民的语言加以诗性的重建，诗歌的发展与普及必指日可待。那么，所有的这些设想都有待于诗学界的研究与革新，以期使之深入人的心灵，使诗歌之光再度闪烁在这片诗意盎然的土地上，散发其诱人的芳香。
最后，我想谈谈跨学科研究的问题。我所认为的比较文学是以跨学科研究为基础的，而目前比较文学界大多把目光集中在纯文学作品的研究与探讨上，跨学科概念并未能真正的深入人心。人类整个文化应该说是相通的，自然科学和社会科学在某种程度上可以相互促进，共同发展。在一部伟大的文学作品中，我们可以看到它所包含的内容如此广阔，政治、经济、历史、哲学、宗教、民俗、艺术，甚至天文地理及其他自然科学知识简直无所不纳。在一定的时期，文学艺术彼此交融，相互影响，我们在谈到17世纪的巴罗克风格的艺术建筑时，往往评论它是当时文艺复兴晚期精神危机的一种表现。更为重要的是，在文学创作中，我们完全可以从对自然科学的研究中受到更多的启发，收集更多的素材，从而打造一片更广阔的创作天地。同时，社会科学的深入发展又为自然科学提供理论依据甚至作超前的导向。以此为基础作比较研究，既促进文化的融合发展，又进一步拓宽了比较文学发展的道路。
民族性格的比较研究
中国文学界至目前为止都没有一位作家跻身于诺贝尔文学奖行列，除去大国强权政治和翻译界翻译水准诸因素外，作品本身存在的问题恐怕不容忽视。在这个自古以来文化专制处于统治地位的国度里，国人不可阻挡地走向了实用主义与中庸主义的处世哲学，即使有一些精英分子奋起呐喊，也摆脱不尽畸形文化的影响，从而跨越不了某一特定阶级的藩篱，从而限制了其创造力和预见力。比较文学研究作为一种跨民族的研究，在对各个民族的文化进行比较研究时，势必要涉及到民族性格问题，而在文化交流中，这种隐藏在作品中的一个民族的性格也会对另一个民族产生影响。今天我们很难想象“五四”时期，当中国的先进知识分子将“德先生”（democracy）和“赛先生”（science）介绍进中国时，这个脑子里从来没有民主与科学概念的民族，当时经历了怎样的挣扎与狂喜的接受过程。保守而中庸的中国人会对古希腊那种狂放、激烈的民族精神持一种什么样的态度。中国文学作品中吸收西方的自由民主精神，对于一个长期缺乏此种精神的国度将产生怎样的影响，我们在现实中也可窥见一斑。资本主义国家的国民性格与社会主义国家的国民性格有着怎样的不同，我们在此不能光用阶级分析的观点去一味赞同或否定哪一方。因为历史与国情的原因，我们很容易犯的错误就是全盘否定资本主义，认为社会主义一切都好，我们评判作家时也往往用无产阶级的伟大作家、带有小资情调的作家来冠以名号，在我看来，这无疑是非常荒唐可笑的。作家之所以伟大，首先他应站在整个人类文明的立场上，站在自己的良心和伟大的理想一方，而不是专门为所谓的形形色色的阶级政党服务。而在比较文学研究中，民族之间必要取长补短，向着人类文明更高的层次共同发展。
尾声
在本文结束之际，我想对那些对比较文学事业持悲观态度的人们略谈几句。我认为，比较文学在世界文学发展和各学科各民族间加强联系的大背景下，以其广泛性和渗透性，拥有一片广阔的田地。因此，只要存在文学，存在促进文学发展的各个相关学科，比较文学就不会消亡。艺术永无止境，文学事业永无止境，那么比较文学事业的发展也将永无止境。
Comparative literature is a kind of mingled disciplinary that comes out in contemporary times. From the time when it is first referred to by , a Denmark scholar, it has experienced 100 years history. After several crisis, it continues to march forward with greater power, accompanied with more realization and reception among common people, and begins to flow out as an independent public subject from scholars’ quiet offices.
For a long time, professors and scholars have been arguing with each other for a perfect explanation on Comparative literature but being unable to get along with each other as a result. A clarified definition didn’t come into being in people’s consciousness yet. in order to help reads of some basic understanding. Here, I will give it a general view according to my own consciousness with the theory help of professor Wang Ning from Beijing Language and Culture University and professor Wang Xiang-dong from Beijing Normal University. In my opinion, comparative literature is in no way commensurate with pure literature, it belongs to extra-literature study that sets the interdisciplinary study as the foundation ,with the doctrine of cross-language, cross-culture and cross-nation studies, and draw such vast research achievements into literature field. wishing a wide range of literature recreation and deepened themes, then propelling literature to display its great importance in society and human lives purposely. it’s the product of nations mass-communication, modern flourishing culture civilization and people ‘ open-mind with the result of rising creativity, the its development inevitably drives a closer touching of nations and strengthens disciplinary relationship. The future culture will be more flourishing, a new era is waiting for literature. the following thing I want to surface out is some private ideas.
Comparative Literature in China
Some commentators think Chinese comparative literature consciousness approximately comes into being when LuXun translated Japanese works in early 20th century. But to be strictly , it only has several decades history in the regular way. In 1983,Chinese attendant first attend international culture conference in this field, in 1985,we ourselves build the Comparative Literature Community, in 1993,Peking University conferred the Dr degree to such majors the first time, Chinese comparative literature enterprise experienced three historical steps of changing and developing, and achieved markably. some Chinese professors and scholars led a hard-working exploration for its planting and developing .among them, professor Tang Zhouhan, from Peking University, as a presentative, planted the first seed in Chinese soil for it, literature world and translation world co-operated with a high enthusiasm ,and gained the 1st-season fruits in research, some writers drink the honey and get more sophies acessantly. Comparative literature wins more “likes” at homes gradually, Universities and Colleges begin to set such a major and build a special center for it one after another. qualified professors do deeper research and continues publishing special works, a more significant culture field raise up and smile to people.
The Problems in Development
According to Marxism philosophy, things always march forward with certain contraries, it’s deadly accompanied with many problems in the experience for anything, so does comparative literature, it’s condemned to have various insignificance.
The first trouble is that most domestic researchers have to depend on the translating, because they can’t read through the original ones. as we know, the greatest translator can’t avoid committing various ”wrongdoings” when translating, so the researchers must be required of high -leveled bilingual or trilingual ability in order to master the works totally and correctly, the embarrassment is that we lack the intellectuals when can master both foreign languages and native language well enough at the same time, which was mostly resulted from the ignorance of traditional education system, and the reform will be left to the next generations.
Secondly, there is floating out some radical inclination and wrong guiding in some circumstances among the criticism and theory fields. In the pretext, I have mentioned that the main purpose of comparative literature will finally return to the literature creativity world. But some commentators are crazy about the influence origin of writers’ products, and shadow the self-creation of writers themselves, that’s too bad. We all know that whatever we will take some comments on, enough relative evidence is very important. may be there really exist some similarities between different papers, and we definitely admit the possibilities of the influence, but emphasizing one’s personal creativity is more important. If there ‘s nothing related at all, the blind comments on sheer similarities will be sure to depress the creator, and so as to depart the main duty of such studies. Suppose that before grand person being grand, can we say all his inspiration just came from the former one? Before the skill of “stream of consciousness” whom could James Joyce imitate? If Jacques Paul Sartre have never thought of existentialism philosophy, who dare to assure there will be no person to produce the existentialism ideal later? of course at present, we can’t present the idea that the inspiration of Taijiling in India only originated from Chinese E’panggong in Shihuang’s Time. It’s certain that studying the influence of writers will be helpful to the literature development, and t also offers great convinence for the later generation to benefit from the former ones. but I still stick to my opinion that we can’t exaggerate it.
Thirdly, we should pay more attachment to poetic culture study. look through the history of World Literature, the original literal form were mostly songs and poetry .which drew so many things that show us a picture vastly and marvelously about society and human beings. writers and readers were mainly common people. Various writings in many countries had some marks of the earliest epics. For instance, Indian great epics and
Influenced next generations so widely and deeply that we can hardly estimate. The earliest mythologies ,epics and even the original culture resources Holy Bible in the west had some honors from it. For a long period, we translated lots of foreign fictions of many styles, and took deeper research, but poetry translation are not satisfying either in quantity or quality. Poetry in nowadays just becomes a kind of entertainment among limited graceful intellectuals, esp. under the circumstances of marketing, writing and reading poetry are simply believed to be a kind of luxury. Some even throw out words that there is no true poet in this time and the so-called poems are meaningless at all. Others predict that Chinese poetry can not reach the level of Tangshi and Sici again. It’s the biggest sadness in poetry world .considering the factors, we should turn our eyes to poetry culture itself. Modern poetry seems to be a symbol of a certain mystery that it’s even impossible to catch the meaning, the poetry study inward are at a loss, commentary field just keep silent about it. It’s true that poetry can’t be benefited in market like other literal works, but as highest wisdom of human being ,its importance can’t be covered. we can’t imagine that what a country will be like if poetry disappeared. I’m often considering doing some innovation for its spreading ,perhaps we can perform it publicly with songs, dancing and music, if the poems are sung instead of the meaningless mourning by singers, if we restructure the labors’ words poeticly, the publicity of poetry can be available probably. Thus, all the expectation should put the desire to the reform of it, and we emphasize the poetry culture comparative study in consequence of enriching our culture and progression of poetry culture at home. we’re looking forwarding to the coming day when poetry glittering on this mysterious sky again and spreading it charming fragrance.
Finally, I will give my opinion on interdisciplinary study. Comparative literature base on interdisciplinary study as I believe, but so far most researchers fix their eyes on pure literature works, the consciousness to interdisciplinary doesn’t really go into their minds. We can say that the different fields in culture should take to each other so as to get the same-time progress. A great fiction can draw many kinds of knowledge such as politics, economy, history, philosophy, religion, art, even astronomy, geography, and so on. At a certain time, cultures come into each other and influence both-sides. Watching the architecture of Baroque style in the 17th century , it’s natural for us to recall the spirit crisis at the end of Renaissance time. More importantly, we can get more inspiration and materials through natural science study and serve the literal creation. In return, the further walking of social science will provide valuable theory guidance and even scientific prediction for natural science, so such kinds of comparative study is sure to get the close communication of different disciplinaries and widen the road for comparative literature development.
Comparative Study on Nations’ Character
No Chinese writer in the country has won the Nobel Prize for literature so far. Apart from the factors of politics and translation, the height works itself is the decisive one . In such a country where culture absolutism has been ruling from ancient times, civilians undoubtedly turn to the pragmatism and neutralism philosophy. Even if there appeared some elites raising up and crying out, they can’t get rid of the deep influence of lame culture and barricade their creativity and predictive ability within the limitation of certain partisanship. As a kind of cross-nation study, when we study the works and culture, the nation’s character must be concerned, and during the communication, the different characters will be sure to influence each other.
Today, it’s hard to imagine in May 4th Time, when then open-minded intellectuals introduced Mr.De and Mr Sai to Chinese people, how then struggled to accept it with different attitudes, because they had never heard of it before, conservative and neutral Chinese people would take what attitudes to the high spirit of ancient Grecian people, the freedom and democracy ideas from western world come into Chinese works and produce great influence in the country as we know.
The characters are different between the people who in capitalism and socialism countries, but we can’t prejudice that one is good and the other is bad with an apparent partisan color. Because of the countries’ reality and history , we’re against capitalism blindly , and be over-confident about socialism ‘s perfection, we often take comments on a writer as a proletarian great writer , but I think it so ridiculous, as a great writer, the most important thing is that he should stand by the whole human being civilization and rightiousness and human’s great dreams, but not in service of varied partisanships. When we do research on comparative literature, one nation can learn from another, and the whole world further to a higher plane of civilization.
The End
AT the end of this thesis, I want to say sth to those who are depressed about comparative literature study. I believe, at the background of world literature flourishing and closer communication both in nations and in cultures, comparative literature is able to stand firmly with its great function. Therefore, as long as there is literature and other relative subjects, it will not die away. The art isendless, the literature enterprise is endless, and comparative literature enterprise will have a good life.
