试论《儒林外史》对文士治生生态的摹写

明清时期,由于科举制度的影响,许多文士参与治生活动,而且成为一种普遍现象。文士的这种治生生态深刻影响了吴敬梓《儒林外史》的创作,《儒林外史》描写的文士治生正是这种现象的文学反映。从治生群体来看,主要集中于下层文士,特别是未仕文士这一群体。从文士治生方式来看,主要集中于以下四类:一、处馆:处馆的文士主要分属蒙师(包括停馆、朋馆两类)及宾师两大类,只不过有的文士的处馆类型两者兼而有之,束脩丰薄不一,常常仅能维持生计;二、卖字作文:官场上的往来文牍、酬赠文字、诗文及序跋等在《儒林外史》中有所摹写,有的文士甚至为了润笔费和雇主闹得不愉快;三、操选政:《儒林外史》中写到的时文选家主要活跃在江南一带,多与书坊合作,生产出许多深受世人欢迎的选本,不过常常不为一些正统文士所看重;四、游食:游食是文士治生的一种常见方式,文士游食方式主要有游幕、打秋风、门馆等形式。他们常常或因家贫,或因科举不第、仕途无望的情况下,为了解决生计问题不得已而为之。另外文士以杂业治生虽不占主流,但也反映出文士治生生态的恶化。《儒林外史》揭示出科举制度带来文士致贫及其对士子精神摧残所带来的巨大伤害,以及对士人治生生态造成了一系列负面影响,文士品行随之发生分流。吴敬梓虽不善于治生,但他认为文士不仅可以治生,而且应该治生多样化,这在《儒林外史》中反映得比较深刻。
Abstract：During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, due to the influence of the imperial examination system, it became popular that scholars participated in the activities of zhisheng (making a living), which was vividly reflected in Wu Jingzi’s Rulin Waishi. Most scholars engaged in zhisheng belonged to lower classes, and those who had not achieved official positions in particular. They could be roughly divided into four groups: private teachers, public letter-writers, popular edition editors, and roamers generally out of poverty and failure in examinations. Although the zhisheng activities were by no means the mainstream, it still reflected the deterioration of scholars’ living condition. The great harm caused by the imperialist system had negative influence on the scholars in body and mind. Wu had his deep reflections in his work in this aspect. He thought it was reasonable for scholars to engage in various ways of zhisheng though he was not good at zhisheng.