Existing hypotheses of the genesis (or the origin) of literature and arts, such as the renowned theory of "mimesis", of labor, of witchcraft, and of play, have made their due contribution, but none of them is entirely convincing. Equally important to the field of study are theories by the Russian scholar Alexander Veselovsky and Chinese scholars Lu Kan and Feng Yuanjun, who have been neglected by academics. It is probable that Giovanni Battista Vico's New Science is the closest to the truth of the origin of arts. Therefore, his ideas are still provocative. This article proposes another hypothesis: literature (poetry) is the product of human beings’ historical practices, which comes into being inevitably due to the desire and pursuit in man's innate nature. The most primal nature of poetry lies in the earliest language and words, wherein poetry comes into being. In other words, the earliest language and words are the most primal poetry, namely the earliest literary form.
Key words
Veselovsky /
Lu Kanru /
Feng Yuanjun /
Vico /
language and words /
the genesis of literature
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References
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(1)康德等人之前,16世纪意大利哲学家马佐尼(1548年—1598年)在《<神曲>的辩护》中把诗看作是“摹仿的游戏”,但未展开论述。《<神曲>的辩护》中文译文见《世界文学》1961年第8、9月号,又见伍蠡甫主编《西方文论选》下(上海:上海译文出版社,1979年),199。
(2)具体可参考维谢洛夫斯基:《历史诗学》,刘宁译(天津:百花文艺出版社,2003年),267—80。
(3)陆侃如、冯沅君《中国文学史简编》上编第一讲“中国文学的起源”,原由上海大江书铺1932年出版,2007年山东画报出版社重版,书名改为《中国文学史二十讲》。此图见该书第5—6页。
(4)具体可参看陆侃如、冯沅君:《中国文学史二十讲》(济南:山东画报出版社,2007年),6。
(5)这是就中华大地的情况而言,世界其他地区的旧石器时代,或早一些,或晚一些,但是基本情况相近。
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