唐代的文言短篇小说﹐内容多传述奇闻异事﹐后人称为唐代传奇，或称唐传奇。
唐代传奇的繁荣及其原因
中国小说在魏晋南北朝时期还处于萌芽阶段﹐当时大量的是记述神灵鬼怪的志怪小说﹐少数记人事的小说如《世说新语》﹐则多记上层人士的谈吐和轶事。这些小说﹐大抵篇幅短小﹐文笔简约﹐缺少具体的描绘。到唐代传奇产生﹐情况有了很大的改变。唐代传奇内容除部分记述神灵鬼怪外﹐大量记载人间的各种世态﹐人物有上层的﹐也有下层的﹐反映面较过去远为广阔﹐生活气息也较为浓厚。在艺术形式上﹐篇幅加长﹐“叙述宛转﹐文辞华艳﹐与六朝之粗陈梗概者较﹐演进之迹甚明”（鲁迅《中国小说史略》）﹔部分作品还塑造了鲜明动人的人物形象。唐代传奇的出现﹐标志著中国古代短篇小说于成熟。宋洪迈说:“唐人小说﹐不可不熟。小小情事﹐凄惋欲绝﹐洵有神遇而不自知者。与诗律可称一代之奇。”（《唐人说荟》例言引）他把唐传奇同唐诗相提并论﹐给予很高的评价。
唐代传奇的繁荣﹐有一定的历史﹑社会原因。唐朝统一中国以后﹐长期来社会比较安定﹐农业和工商业都得到发展﹐象长安﹑洛阳﹑扬州﹑成都等一些大城市﹐人口众多﹐经济繁荣。为了适应广大市民和统治阶层文娱生活的需要﹐在这类大城市中﹐民间的“说话”(讲故事)艺术应运而生。当时佛教兴盛﹐佛教徒也利用这种通俗的文艺形式演唱佛经故事或其他故事﹐以招徕听众﹑宣扬佛法﹐于是又产生了大量变文﹐促进了“说话”艺术的发展。从民间到上层﹐说话普遍受到人们的喜爱。郭湜《高力士外传》记载﹐唐玄宗晚年生活寂寞﹐高力士经常让他听“转变说话”即说变文和小说以解闷取乐。王建《观蛮妓》﹑吉师老《看蜀女转昭君变》诗﹐都说到了女妓演唱王昭君的故事。《目连救母变文》的故事则为白居易﹑张祜所熟悉和引用(孟棨《本事诗》﹑王定保《唐摭言》)。段成式《酉阳杂俎》续集《贬误》篇记他于太和年间观杂戏﹐中有“市人小说”﹐讲名医扁鹊的故事。所谓“市人小说”﹐即指街坊艺人讲说的故事。当时文人聚会时﹐也有以“说话”消遣的。元稹《酬白学士代书一百韵》诗:“翰墨题名尽﹐光阴听话移。”自注:“乐天每与余游从﹐无不书名题壁﹐又尝於新昌宅说‘一枝花话’﹐自寅至巳﹐犹未毕词也。”“一枝花话”讲的就是白行简《李娃传》所记的故事﹐历四个时辰﹐即今八个小时尚未讲完﹐可见叙述非常细致。在某些唐传奇篇末﹐往往述及本文的写作是由於朋友间的“说话”﹐如“昼宴夜话”(《任氏传》)﹑“宵话徵异”(《庐江冯媪传》)﹑“话及此事”(《长恨传》)﹑“因话奇事”(《续玄怪录‧尼妙寂》)等。文士间流行“说话”风气﹐其“说话”艺术又很细致﹐是促使唐传奇大量产生并取得突出成就的一个重要原因。
唐代科举取士﹐重视文学。在各科中﹐考试诗赋杂文的进士科最受重视。士人应试之前﹐常以所作诗文投献名公巨卿﹐以求称誉﹐扩大社会名声﹐为考中进士科创造条件﹐当时称之为“行卷”。传奇文也常用作“行卷”。宋赵彦卫《云麓漫钞》说﹐“唐代士人行卷﹐逾数日又投﹐谓之‘温卷’﹐如《幽怪录》﹑《传奇》等皆是也”。传奇以叙事为主﹐文体近于野史﹐中间常穿插诗歌韵语﹐结尾缀以小段议论﹐即所谓“文备众体”。唐代后期传奇专集产生颇多﹐大约同这种“行卷”﹑“温卷”风尚有关。但赵彦卫的说法﹐在唐宋文献资料中缺乏有力佐证﹐因而有的研究者对此表示怀疑。
魏晋南北朝作者把小说作为记录异闻奇事的野史一类看待﹐略叙梗概﹐不讲究语言的藻饰。《文心雕龙》详述各种文体﹐下及谐辞隐语，于小说一类却只字不提。说明在当时区分文笔﹐注意藻绘的风气中﹐志怪记人之类的小说﹐因缺乏文采而不为论者所重视。唐传奇情况则大不相同。鲁迅说﹕唐人“始有意为小说”﹐认为“传奇者流﹐源盖出於志怪﹐然施之藻绘﹐扩其波澜﹐故所成就乃特异。其间虽亦或托讽喻以纾牢愁﹐谈祸福以寓惩劝﹐而大归则究在文采与意想﹐与昔之传鬼神明因果而外无他意者﹐甚异其趣矣。”（《中国小说史略》）这就指出了唐传奇作者是有意识地进行文学创作﹐虚构曲折情节﹐注意语言华美﹐富于文采与意想﹐从而取得了突出的文学成就。
继南北朝之后﹐佛道两教在唐代有进一步的发展﹐在社会上广泛流行。两教的经典和文艺作品﹐如变文﹑壁画等其中包含著不少情节离奇曲折﹑想象丰富奇特的故事。它们对一部分唐传奇(主要是神怪一类作品)的题材﹑构思以至细致的描绘有一定影响﹐同时也给它们羼入了大量宗教迷信的杂质。
唐代传奇的发展过程
历经前期，中期和后期三个阶段。
*前期自唐初至唐肃宗时*
前期作品现存很少﹐质量也不及中期﹐但已显示出唐传奇的特色和创新精神。唐传奇中最早的《古镜记》，相传为隋末唐初人王度作﹐内容不脱六朝志怪小说余风。它以古镜为线索﹐把十多个怪异故事联缀起来组成长篇﹐叙述较为细致﹐较之笔记式的六朝小说是一大进步。《补江总白猿传》一般推测亦为前时期作品。作者不详﹐内容属志怪一类﹐情节较曲折﹐描绘也较具体生动﹐初步显示出唐传奇的艺术创新特色。《古镜》﹑《白猿》两篇﹐标志著中国小说从六朝志怪向唐传奇发展的过渡形态。
唐高宗﹑武则天时﹐有张鷟所撰《游仙窟》﹐自叙途中夜投大宅﹐逢两女子宴饮调戏﹐停一宿而去。内容轻薄﹐似为狎妓生活的反映﹐文辞华艳浅俗﹐特多骈俪语句﹐且常穿插诗歌韵语﹐体制与唐代民间讲唱文学相近﹐当是受其影响。
唐玄宗﹑唐肃宗时﹐史称盛唐。这时期诗歌繁荣﹐传奇相对显得寂寞。当时张说曾作传奇文。王仁裕《开元天宝遗事》卷上《鹦鹉告事》条载﹕长安豪民杨崇义为妻刘氏及其情夫谋杀﹐他人莫知。后因堂前架上鹦鹉告发﹐始得破案。朝廷因“封鹦鹉为绿衣使者﹐付后宫养餵之﹐张说后为《绿衣使者传》﹐好事者传之”。同书卷下《传书燕》条载﹕长安豪民郭行先之女绍兰﹐嫁富商任宗。任宗南下经商﹐经年不归。绍兰吟诗系於燕足﹐燕果南飞递与任宗。宗次年遂归家。“后文士张说传其事﹐而好事者写之”。但张说的这两篇小说原文均已失传。另有《虬髯客传》﹑《说郛》﹑《虞初志》皆题张说作﹐但尚缺少更确凿可靠的证据。
张鷟《游仙窟》﹑张说《绿衣使者传》等﹐都描写了市民生活﹐说明这时期的传奇﹐有些已在内容题材上摆脱了六朝志怪小说传统﹐著重表现人情世态﹐向新的领域扩展。
唐前期也产生过一些小说专集﹐如唐临《冥报记》﹑赵自勤《定命录》﹑戴孚《广异记》等(顾况《戴氏广异记序》)。这些专集原书已佚﹐部分保存在《太平广记》中。内容大抵记述神怪和因果报应之事﹐沿袭六朝志怪传统﹐缺少创造性﹑文字一般也颇简质﹐仅少数篇章叙述较为宛曲。又有牛肃的《纪闻》。记述内容稍广泛﹐有些篇章颇有文采。例如《吴保安》写吴保安﹑郭仲翔两人生死不渝的友谊﹐描叙细致动人﹐《新唐书》曾采其事入《忠义传》。它和《虬髯客传》虽一写实事﹐一为虚构﹐但都是表现侠义一类人物﹐突破了志怪的传统。
*中期唐代宗至唐文宗时*
中期是唐传奇的繁荣阶段﹐作品多﹐名家也多﹐一些最优秀的单篇传奇﹐几乎都产生在这一时期。鲁迅曾指出:“惟自大历以至大中中﹐作者云蒸﹐郁术文苑﹐沈既济﹑许尧佐擢秀於前﹐蒋防﹑元稹振采於后﹐而李公佐﹑白行简﹑陈鸿﹑沈亚之辈﹐则其卓异也。”(《唐宋传奇集》叙例)这时期的传奇作品﹐从内容题材上看﹐大致可分为神怪﹑爱情﹑历史﹑侠义诸类。其中有些作品内容交叉﹐如神怪兼爱情类的题材就很多﹐其他题材也有结合的。
神怪类：讲的是神仙鬼怪一类故事。题材虽沿袭六朝志怪小说的传统﹐但内容﹑形式都具有新的特色。沈既济《枕中记》﹑李公佐《南柯太守传》﹐分别写卢生﹑淳于棼于梦中位极宰相﹐权势赫﹐梦醒觉悟﹐皈依宗教。主题为表现人世荣华富贵如梦境之空虚﹐不足凭恃。题材接受南朝志怪小说《幽明录》中《焦湖庙祝》的影响。但《焦湖庙祝》全文仅百馀字﹐写杨林在枕中婚宦得意之事不过数十字。叙述简略﹔《枕中》﹑《南柯》两篇则篇幅较长﹐描绘具体﹐委曲细致﹐显示出“施之藻绘﹐扩其波澜”的特色。而且由於把梦境中的仕途荣遇与波折铺叙得淋漓尽致﹐也间接反映了当时朝廷和官场的某些情况﹐具有一定的现实意义。此外﹐《古岳渎经》﹑《庐江冯媪传》﹑《三梦记》﹑《周秦行纪》等﹐或述神鬼﹐或记奇梦﹐也属於这一类。
神怪兼爱情类：沈既济《任氏传》﹐写狐精化为美女任氏﹐与贫士郑六同居﹐任氏不仅艳丽非凡﹐善良聪慧﹐并能抗御犟暴﹐形象动人﹐为后世《聊斋志异》等著重写狐精故事的先导﹐故事文笔也较其《枕中记》更为细腻。陈玄佑《离魂记》﹐写张倩娘为了追随爱人王宙﹐魂魄与躯体相离。李朝威《柳毅传》﹐写书生柳毅传书搭救洞庭龙女脱离困境后﹐几经曲折﹐终於与龙女结为夫妇﹐情节离奇﹐性格鲜明﹐铺叙细致﹐文辞华艳﹐为唐传奇中的杰作。李景亮《李章武传》﹐写李章武与华州街坊妇女王氏一度热恋﹐王氏病故后﹐鬼魂与重游旧地﹑夜居其宅的李章武追叙欢情。汪辟疆称其叙述“文笔婉曲﹐凄艳感人”﹐并谓《聊斋志异》专学此种笔法（《唐人小说》）。这些篇章﹐实际写的都是以爱情婚姻为主的人情世态﹐如果剥去其神怪外衣﹐就是优秀的爱情小说﹐另外﹐沉亚之《湘中怨解》﹑《异梦录》﹑《秦梦记》三篇﹐也属这一类作品。叙事虽较简约﹐但多诗歌﹐饶有韵致﹐表现出作者要眇的情思。
爱情类：除上述以神怪形式出现的爱情故事外﹐还有一些专写人间爱情的传奇。如许尧佐《柳氏传》﹐写诗人韩翊（一作“韩翃”）与柳氏相爱﹐经动乱离散﹐最后团圆的故事。此事也见于孟棨《本事诗》﹐当为实事。又如白行简《李娃传》﹐写荥阳大族郑生热恋长安倡女李娃﹐屡经波折﹐几经丧生﹐终获美好结局。蒋防《霍小玉传》，写陕西李益与长安倡家霍小玉相爱﹐后登第授官﹐遂致负心。这两篇传奇﹐都以世族子弟与妓女的恋爱为题材﹐有其现实意义。唐代士人以娶名门女子为荣﹐因这种联姻有利於仕进和提高社会地位。世族子弟溺爱倡妓﹐一般说来只能是暂时的风流韵事。李娃在郑生登第授官后﹐要求离去﹐并劝郑生“当结媛鼎族”。霍小玉也自知与李益的同居生活不能持久﹐只求暂度八年﹐当李益满30岁时﹐再“妙选高门”。这里反映了森严的阶级界限和真挚爱情之间的深刻矛盾。两篇传奇的主要人物性格鲜明突出﹐情节曲折﹐波澜起伏﹐文笔细腻生动﹐与《南柯太守传》﹑《柳毅传》﹑《虬髯客传》等篇﹐共同标志著唐传奇艺术的高峰。在这类作品中﹐元稹的《莺莺传》也很著名。篇中刻画莺莺性格尤为深刻细致。
历史类：以陈鸿的《长恨歌传》和《东城老父传》为代表。《长恨歌传》前半写唐玄宗宠幸杨贵妃﹐朝政腐败﹐招致安史之乱﹐暴露了玄宗后期的黑暗现实。后半写杨妃死后﹐玄宗日夜思念﹐有蜀地方士为至蓬壶仙山访得杨妃﹐故事纯出虚构﹐但叙述宛曲﹐富有情致。同时有白居易所作《长恨歌》与传文相配合。《东城老父传》写贾昌少年时以善于斗鸡得玄宗爱幸﹐声势赫﹐从侧面反映了玄宗后期的荒淫生活。后安史乱起﹐昌家道中落﹐依佛寺为生。文中写斗鸡一段较生动﹐但大部分叙述质直﹐不及《长恨歌传》文采斐然。唐玄宗当国近五十年﹐是唐代由盛转衰的一个关键性历史人物。他前期励精图治﹐英明有为﹔后期迷信方士﹐耽溺女色﹐信用奸佞﹐招致祸乱。他又长于诗歌音乐﹐富有才艺。因此关於他和开元天宝年间人物事件的传说特别多。唐人诗文﹑笔记﹑小说中也有许多有关他的歌咏和记载。小说除上述陈鸿二传外﹐尚有吴兢《开元升平源》(一说陈鸿作)。郭湜《高力士外传》等﹐但文笔都较朴直﹐缺少文学性。
侠义类：这类小说在唐中期还较少﹐李公佐有《谢小娥传》。写谢小娥的父亲﹑丈夫为盗申兰﹑申春所杀。小娥女扮男装﹐佣于申兰家﹐终於设计杀兰擒春﹐表现了智勇俱备的侠义精神。沈亚之《冯燕传》﹐写冯燕与滑州将张婴妻私通﹐后婴妻授刀于冯令杀其夫﹐冯怒其不义而杀之﹐及闻婴为此蒙屈将戮﹐复挺身出而自首﹐也表现了犯法后勇於承担责任的豪侠作风。此外﹐如《柳毅传》中的钱塘君﹐《柳氏传》中的许俊﹐《霍小玉传》中的黄衫客﹐也都属於侠义一类人物﹐但在全篇中不是主要角色。这类小说在唐晚期有较大的发展。
*后期自唐文宗时至唐末*
后期单篇传奇现存很少﹐写得较好的是薛调《无双传》﹑无名氏《灵应传》﹑《东阳夜怪录》诸篇。传奇专集则大量出现﹐尉成风气。其中比较著名的﹐除牛僧孺《玄怪录》﹑李复言《续玄怪录》可能在文宗朝稍前时期所作外﹐计有郑还古《博异志》﹑薛用弱《集异记》﹑张读《宣室志》﹑袁郊《甘泽谣》﹑裴铏《传奇》﹑康骈《剧谈录》﹑皇甫枚《三水小牍》等。传奇专集中的作品﹐不尽是编撰者的创作﹐如《续玄怪录》中的《尼妙寂》﹐采自李公佐《谢小娥传》而略有变化﹐《博异志》中的《沈亚之》条﹐采自沈亚之《异梦录》。由於专集大量产生﹐作品数量远远超过前两期﹔但除有一部分写得比较细致生动外﹐多数篇幅短小﹐叙事简略﹐记述神怪。复与六朝志怪小说接近﹐文学成就则远逊於中期的单篇传奇。
神怪故事中﹐如《灵应传》写龙女九娘子抗拒朝那小龙逼婚﹐求得泾原节度使周宝发兵援助﹐终于战胜朝那小龙﹐情节较为曲折﹐显然受了《柳毅传》的影响。《东阳夜怪录》写秀才成自虚途中夜投荒宅﹐遇橐驼﹑驴﹑鸡﹑猫﹑刺等物怪﹐各化为人﹐互相赋诗酬答﹐并与自虚谈论。天将晓﹐诸怪均隐去﹐自虚疑而访之﹐乃知是物怪﹐末段构思﹐颇与《南柯太守传》结尾接近。《续玄怪录》中的《定婚店》﹐写的是“月下老人”掌管婚姻簿册的著名故事。《传奇》中的《裴航》﹐写秀才裴航於蓝田驿遇仙女﹐经过艰苦努力﹐终成眷属的故事﹐也广泛流传于后世。《续玄怪录》中的《杜子春》﹐题材本于《大唐西域记》卷七中“烈士池”﹐写杜子春因落拓不善治生而贫困。遇一老道人﹐常资给之。后道人引之入华山﹐令其静坐求仙﹐勿为一切外界幻境所惑。子春初能守戒﹐后见其爱子被杀﹐忽发噫声﹐遂前功尽弃。小说主旨在宣传道教弃绝尘俗的出世思想﹐但描摹细致﹐表现了较高的艺术技巧。
皇甫枚《三水小牍》中的《步飞烟》﹑薛调的《无双传》是后期爱情小说中杰出的作品。前者写武公业之妾步非烟的爱情悲剧﹐叙述宛曲﹐颇有情致﹔后者写王仙客与其表妹刘无双相爱而历经悲欢离合的故事﹐情节曲折﹐描写亦生动﹐后一篇虽以写爱情为主﹐但侠义成分比过去的《柳氏传》﹑《霍小玉传》已大为加重。至《传奇》中的《昆仑奴》篇﹐写昆仑奴磨勒勇武不凡﹐为成全其少主崔生的爱情﹐逾墙垣十重﹐劫取一品勋臣家的女伎红绡﹐描写重点则已由爱情转向了侠义。
《甘泽谣》中的《红线》和《传奇》中的《聂隐娘》﹐专写侠女行盗行刺﹑参与藩镇之间斗争的故事。唐代中后期﹐统治阶级内部斗争剧烈﹐行刺之事﹐时有所闻。宰相武元衡﹑裴度﹑李石等均曾遇刺。柳珵《上清传》也写到唐德宗斥责宰相窦参“蓄养侠刺”。《红线》﹑《聂隐娘》两篇﹐反映了当时藩镇间尖锐斗争的现实﹐篇中所写的侠士﹐或能腾空飞行﹐或有超人的武艺﹐实际上是把侠士神化了﹐这种情况为过去的侠义故事所未见﹐当是受流行的宗教迷信(主要是道教)的影响﹐成为后世武侠小说的漤觞。至於《玄怪录》中的《郭元振》﹐写元振夜斩猪妖﹐为民除害﹐则又是把侠义﹑神怪两类题材结合起来了。
传奇专集中还有一些小故事﹐虽然情节比较单纯﹐描写也不够细致﹐但思想内容具有进步意义。如《三水小牍》中的《却要》写湖南观察使李庚家女奴﹐面对四位公子的调戏﹐从容应付﹐设计加以揶揄﹐表现了被压迫者的机智和反抗。皇甫氏《原化记》中的《京都儒士》﹐写京都一儒士自称有胆气不畏鬼怪﹐某夜独宿凶宅﹐心中惊怖﹐丑态毕露﹐刻画了一个言行不一致的知识分子形像。这类作品篇幅短小而含意隽永﹐后来纪昀《阅微草堂笔记》中的某些篇什﹐风格与之相近。
唐代诗歌发达﹐产生了不少关於诗人及其创作的传说和故事。其中一部分也富有传奇色彩。单篇中如许尧佐《柳氏传》﹑沉亚之《秦梦记》﹐专集中如《集异记》的《王维》﹑《王涣之》等均属此类。晚唐范摅《云溪友议》﹑孟棨《本事诗》两书﹐主要或专门记载有关诗人诗作的故事。魏晋人崇尚清谈放诞﹐产生了《语林》﹑《世说新语》等笔记小说﹔唐人崇尚诗歌﹐产生了《云溪友议》﹑《本事诗》等故事集﹔从中都可以看出一个时代的特殊风气。
综上所述﹐唐代传奇的内容丰富多彩﹐反映的社会生活面较广﹐有的表现了男女情人的悲欢离合及社会原因﹐有的通过幻想形式反映了人们对幸福生活的美好理想﹐有的暴露了上层社会的种种丑恶现象﹐有的歌颂了见义勇为﹐反抗犟暴的豪侠行为﹐大都具有积极意义。唐传奇也包含著许多思想糟粕﹐如宣传鬼神迷信和宿命论﹐宣扬女人是尤物﹑祸水﹐赞美出于个人感恩而为主子效忠的行径等等﹐应注意鉴别。
唐传奇对后代文学的影响
唐代传奇对后代小说﹑戏曲及讲唱文学有较大的影响。传奇体成为宋以后历代文言短篇小说的主要样式﹐即使在白话小说兴起后﹐仍有一定势力。宋代就出现过不少传奇作品﹐虽然一般说来写得比较平实﹐缺少飞动的文采﹐但也有一些流传的佳篇﹐如鲁迅《唐宋传奇集》中收录的《绿珠传》﹑《杨太真外传》和《梅妃传》﹑《李师师外传》等。明代著名的传奇小说有瞿佑的《剪灯新话》﹑李祯的《剪灯馀话》和邵景瞻的《觅灯因话》。其中《剪灯新话》的文笔意境﹐颇能新人耳目。清代蒲松龄的《聊斋志异》更是继承并发展了唐传奇人物形像鲜明﹑故事情节曲折﹑语言华艳生动的特色﹐获得了巨大的成就。
唐传奇对宋以后的白话短篇小说即话本也有明显影响﹐很多题材和人物为话本所采用。据宋罗烨《醉翁谈录》记载﹐宋代已有不少根据唐传奇故事编成的话本﹐但多亡佚。明人所辑话本集《清平山堂话本》﹑“三言”﹐“二拍”中﹐也保存了好些取材于唐传奇的话本。传奇中叙事﹑诗笔﹑议论结合的形式﹐即所谓“文备众体”的特点﹐以及传奇描写人物的手段﹐如比较细腻的细节描写﹐传神的人物对话等﹐话本也都有所借鉴和发展。
唐传奇的题材﹑故事对后世戏曲以及讲唱文学的影响﹐一向为研究者们所注意。大凡著名的传奇故事﹐在后代都各自产生若干同一题材的戏曲。最为人所知的是《长恨歌传》对元代王伯成的诸宫调《天宝遗事》﹑白朴的杂剧《梧桐雨》和清代洪升的传奇戏曲《长生殿》的影响﹐《莺莺传》对宋代赵令畤的《崔莺莺双调蝶恋花鼓子词》﹑元代王实甫的《西厢记》的影响﹐《霍小玉传》﹑《枕中记》﹑《南柯太守传》对汤显祖的传奇戏曲“玉茗堂四梦”的影响等等。由於唐传奇成为后世戏曲﹑小说汲取题材进行再创作的宝库之一﹐因而有人把这种现象与希腊神话对后来欧洲文学的影响相比拟。
唐代传奇的语言
唐代传奇的语言﹐一般运用散体﹐但多四字句﹐句法较整齐﹐沿袭了六朝志怪小说的传统。六朝志怪小说如《搜神记》等﹐语言比较质朴﹐不讲究对偶和辞藻﹐在当时区别“文”“笔”的风气下﹐属于“笔”这一类﹐但因受骈文盛行的影响﹐一部分语句句法比较整齐﹐风格上也有与骈文接近的一面。唐代传奇的语言﹐就是沿著这一路子发展的。个别篇章如《游仙窟》﹐甚至以骈体为主﹐但多数作品虽夹杂骈句﹐基本上仍是散体。不过由于作者有意重视文采﹐不少作品语言颇为华艳。
中唐时代传奇繁荣﹐名篇迭出﹐古文大家韩愈﹑柳宗元在当时风气影响下﹐也写了几篇接近传奇的文章﹐如韩愈的《毛颖传》﹑柳宗元的《河间传》之类。但它们不象传奇那样注意讲述有趣味的故事﹐著重表现作者的意想和文采﹐而是如鲁迅所说“以寓言为本﹐文词为末”﹐其实“无涉于传奇”（《中国小说史略》）。
传奇叙事一般具体细致﹐文辞比较华艳﹐古文则叙事简略﹐文辞力求古雅。宋范仲淹《岳阳楼记》﹐写登楼所见景物﹐铺陈较为具体﹐句法亦较整齐﹐接近骈体﹐便被古文家尹洙讥为“传奇”（《后山诗话》）﹐此事颇足说明二者文风的区别。所以《毛颖传》等一类作品﹐实际上不能算作传奇文。
唐代传奇的结集和研究资料
晚唐陈翰采录唐传奇的许多优秀篇章﹐编成《异闻集》10卷﹐原书已佚﹐其中一部分为《太平广记》所采录。宋初李昉等所编《太平广记》500卷﹐分类编纂汉﹑魏以迄宋初的小说﹑野史﹑杂记等﹐取材宏富﹐是保存汉魏六朝和唐代小说的渊薮。明清时代所编的《说海》﹑《五朝小说》﹑《唐人说荟》等书﹐则往往“妄制篇目﹐改题撰人”（鲁迅《唐宋传奇集序例》）﹐不可凭信。“五四”以后﹐鲁迅据《文苑英华》﹑《太平广记》等书﹐去伪存真﹐专采唐﹑宋单篇传奇为《唐宋传奇集》一书﹐末附《稗边小缀》﹐对所收各篇传奇及其作者进行考订﹐把这方面的整理研究工作引入科学化的道路。后汪辟疆又编《唐人小说》一书﹐除单篇外﹐还选录了一部分专集中的代表作品﹐各篇均有说明考订﹐可与《唐宋传奇集》相辅并行。唐传奇的专集﹐今人亦在分别加以校点整理中﹐已经出版的有《博异志》﹑《集异记》﹑《传奇》等。
研究方面：鲁迅《中国小说史略》中有3篇文章﹐对唐传奇的特色﹑历史地位与重要作家作品﹐作了精当的论述。刘开荣《唐代小说研究》(1947年初版﹐1955年修订重版)﹐选择若干代表作品﹐著重结合时代背景进行探讨。
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在唐代传奇当中，有三个小故事，叫《纸月》、《取月》、《留月》。纸月就是有一个人，能够剪个纸的月亮照明，另一个人取月，能够把月亮拿下来放在自己怀里，没有月亮时候照照，第三个人留月，把月光放在自己的篮子里边，黑天的时候拿出来照照。都很简单，一百来个字，几十个字。由此蒲松龄拿来写了《崂山道士》。这是大家很熟悉的聊斋故事。
Tang Dynasty Classical Chinese short story, anecdote narrated over the content of different things, later known as the Tang Dynasty legend, or Tang Dynasty.
And the reasons for the prosperity of the Tang Legend
Chinese fiction in the Wei and Jin Dynasties still in its infancy, when a large number of the account of God's supernatural ghost stories, novels such as the small number of personnel record "Shi", many of the top people in the conversation recorded and anecdotes. These novels, probably are short, simple writing style, lack of specific description. Tales in the Tang Dynasty, the situation has changed dramatically. Only part of the legendary account of the contents of the Tang Dynasty spirits ghosts, the large variety of world records world state, the characters are upper, but also lower, reflecting a much wider area than in the past, life is also more intense flavor. In the art form, longer length, "describes Wanzhuan, diction Hua Yan, Chen outline of the Six Dynasties were more crude, very clear traces the evolution of" (Lu Xun's "A Brief History of Chinese Fiction"); part of the work has shaped the distinctive character moving image. The emergence of the Tang Dynasty legend that ancient Chinese stories to mature. Song Mai said: "The Chinese novel, not unfamiliar with. Tiny circumstances, Qi Wan stricken, not knowing who encountered God Xun. And poetry can be said that a generation of Church law." ("Tang Hui said," By way of illustration cited) he compared with the Tang Dynasty to Tang, spoke highly of.
Tang Legend of prosperity, there are certain historical, social causes. After unifying China, Tang dynasty, more long-term stability to the community, agriculture and industry and commerce have been developed, such as Luoyang, Chang'an ﹑ ﹑ ﹑ Yangzhou, Chengdu and other major cities, large population and economic prosperity. In order to adapt to the general public and civic life, the needs of the ruling class, in such large cities, the private sector "to speak" (story) Art came into being. At that time the prosperity of Buddhism, Buddhists also use this popular art form of singing Buddhist stories or other stories to attract audience ﹑ promote Buddhism, so he produced a large number of variable text, for the "talking" art. From the civil to the top, talk generally loved by the people. Guo Shi, "Lishi rumored" records, Emperor lonely old age, Gao Lishi often let him hear "into words," change the text that is said to relieve boredom fun and fiction. Wang, "View of Man prostitute" ﹑ Kishi old "to see women turn Zhaojun Shu change" poetry, have said that the female prostitutes singing the story of Wang Zhaojun. "Hell to Save His Wife" story was familiar to and Zhang Hu Bai ﹑ reference (Meng Qi "The Tale Poem" ﹑ Wang will guarantee "The Corrections.") Duan-style "Exposition of" sequel "demoted wrong" articles he Wo Kee concept of hybrid between a play there, "City People's Fiction," a story about famous doctor Bian Que. The so-called "city person fiction", referring to the story of neighborhood artists and speaking. Literati of the time together, they have to "speak" recreation. Yuan Zhen, "writes the 100 paid Bai Xueshi rhyme" poem: "Langhammer titles do, time shift obedient." From the note: "Lotte from each tour and I, are all the title the wall, You Chang Yu Xinchang house say, 'a flower words', since the Yin to had, is still unknown complete words also. "" a flower, then "talk white line is simple," Tale of Li Wa "is written the story, calendar four hours, the term of the present eight hours not yet finished, we can see very detailed description. Not yesterday, in some Tang, often referred to writing this article because of the friendship between the "words", such as "Night Talk feast day" ("Biography of Ren") ﹑ "night, then sign differences" ("Lujiang von Nurse Communication ") ﹑" words and the matter "(" Regret Biography ") ﹑" by words and wonders "(" Xu Xuan Miao strange silence recorded ‧ Niger "), and so on. Popular among teachers of the law "speak" atmosphere, and its "words" art and very detailed, is to promote a large number of Tang Dynasty and has achieved remarkable achievements produced a reason.
After following the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Buddhist and further development in the Tang Dynasty, is widely popular in the community. Two teaching classical and literary works such as paintings and other variable text ﹑ plot contains a lot of strange twists and turns ﹑ imaginative strange story. Their part of the Tang Dynasty (mainly fantasy kind of work) the idea of subjects as well as detailed descriptions of ﹑ have some influence, but also to their confusion into a large number of religious superstition of impurities.
The development of the Tang Dynasty legend
After early, middle and late stages.
* Since the Early Tang Dynasty Suzong early hours *
Pre-existing works of small and medium-term quality is not, however, has shown the characteristics of Tang and innovation. Tang in the first "Ancient Mirror", is said to Wang khanate degree for, the content is not more than the wind off the Six Ghost Stories. It is the mirror leads to more than 10 odd suffix together to form a long story, described in more detail, than the note-style Six novel is a big step forward. "Added Jiang white ape Biography" before the period of general speculation also works. Author unknown, the contents are a class of supernatural, plot more twists and turns, depicting the specific and vivid than the initial showing of art Tang innovative features. "Old Mirror", "White Ape" 2, marks the Chinese novel from the Six Dynasties to Tang Ghost shape the development of the transition.
Gaozong ﹑ Empress Wu, there are written by Zhang Zhuo, "Visit the Cave," Autobiography night on his way to vote mansion, every feast molested two women, stopped one night away. Content of light, seems to play with prostitutes living reflection of diction Hua Yan shallow, Trinidad and Tobago Parallelism, statements, often with interspersed poems in English, institutional and talking and singing folk literature similar to the Tang Dynasty, when is affected.
Zhang Zhuo "Fairy Cave" ﹑ Zhang said, "postman Biography", have described the life of the people, explain the legend of this period, some of the content subject matter in the Six Ghost Stories out of the traditional emphasis on human performance in the world state, to the new areas of expansion.
* When * the medium-term in Tang to Emperor Tang Wenzong
The prosperity of the mid Tang period, many works are more famous, some of the best single article legendary, almost all produced in this period. Lu Xun once said: "However arrogant calendar as well as medium and large, the author goes steaming, Yu surgery BUILDING, Shen both economic ﹑ Xu Gyosa pull out show in front, Chiang anti ﹑ Yuan Zhen Zhen mining in after Lee Kinsuke, white line of Jane ﹑ Chen Hong ﹑ Shen Ya the generation, their Sublime also. "(" Song Legend Collection, "the Syrian case) the legendary works of this period, the contents of subject matter from the point of view, can be divided into historical, fantasy ﹑ ﹑ chivalrous love of various classes. Some of the content of cross-work, such as the supernatural and love kind of subject matter on many other subjects are also integrated.
Fantasy and love Category: Shen both economic "Biography of Ren" was refined into a beautiful fox Ringer, and six poor persons living together Zheng, Ren is not only beautiful and remarkable, kind and intelligent, and can resist stubborn storm, moving image, for future generations, "Strange Stories Gothic "waiting to rewrite the story of fox spirit guide, story writing style than their" Pillow Note "is more delicate. Chenxuan You "Soul in mind," wrote Zhang Qian Zhou Wang Niang love to follow, are away from the soul and body. Li Zhaowei "Liu Yi Chuan", write the book scholar Liu Yi Chuan rescue dragon from Dongting predicament, after several twists and turns, finally married with the dragon, bizarre plot, vivid characters, elaborate detail, diction Hua Yan, Tang's masterpiece for the . Paul Lee, "Wu Chuan-Li Zhang," wrote Li Zhang Wu and Hua Wang once love of women state residents, Wang died, the ghost and re-visit the Home of their house the night ﹑ Li Zhang Huan Wu recount situation. Pijiang called narrative "writing Wan Qu, Qi Yan moving" and that "Lonely" special study of this technique of writing ("Chinese novel"). These chapters are written by the real love and marriage-based human world state, if stripped of its supernatural coat is good love story, In addition, Shen Ya the "Complaint Solutions Hunan", "dreams recorded", "Qin Dreams, "3, also is this type of work. Although relatively simple narrative, but more poetry, interesting charm to show on the Affectional be subtle.
Love Category: In addition to the above in the form of supernatural love story, there are a number of experts to write the legend of human love. If Xu Gyosa "Liu's autobiography," Han Yi people write poetry (1 for "Han Hong") and Liu's love, separated by unrest, the story of the last reunion. This is also found in Meng Qi "The Tale Poem" When the facts. Another example is simple white line, "Tale of Li Wa," students love to write Xingyang Han Chang Cheng Li Wa advocate women many times from twists and turns, after several were killed, finally got a happy ending. Chiang defense "Story of Huo", written in Shaanxi Huo Xiaoyu Li Yi and Chang-an advocate family love, the first awarded after the official registration, end he Ungrateful. These two legends, both to children and prostitutes aristocratic family love as a theme, has its practical significance. Tang scholars to marry women proud, because this marriage is conducive to secularization and social mobility. Children spoiled aristocratic family advocate prostitution in general is only temporary affair. Tang Zheng-Sheng Li Wa in the first official award, the requested leave, and advised Zheng students "when the end Yuan Ding family." HUO also knew to LI cohabitation can not be sustained, so the only suspense degrees for eight years, when Li Yi over 30 years of age, and then "wonderful _select_ion of high door." Here reflects the strict class boundaries and the profound contradiction between true love. The main Characters in two distinct prominent legend, plot twists and turns, ups and downs, delicate and vivid writing style, and "Biography of NanKe Prefect", "Liu Yi Chuan", "Heroic Legends" and other articles, together marked the peak of Tang Dynasty art. In such works, Yuan Zhen's "Realm" is also very famous. Yingying chapter of characterization is particularly profound and detailed character.
History class: to Chen Hong's "Song of Enduring Sorrow" and "East Side father Biography" represented. "Song of Enduring Sorrow" favorite of the first half was Emperor Yang Yuhuan, affairs of state corruption, lead to Rebellion, exposed the dark reality of the late reign. Write Yang Fei half after the death of, reign miss day and night, with Shu local persons as to penghu Spirit Mountain's visit was Yang Fei, a story of pure fiction, but the narrative Wan song, full of the delight. At the same time there is Bai's "Everlasting Regret" and mass culture match. "East Side father Biography" written Jia Chang youth, love to be good at fighting cocks were fortunate reign, momentum Hz, from the reflection of the dissolute life of the late reign. History of chaos after the safety, the Chang Family Decline, living according to Buddhist temples. Written the cock-fighting a more lively, but most of the narrative quality of straight, not as "Song of Enduring Sorrow" striking literary grace. Emperor when the country nearly five years of the Tang Dynasty to slow down a key historical figure. His previous good governance, wise and promising; late superstitious alchemist, indulgence in sex, credit crafty, invite and bring disaster. He's good at poetry, full of talent. So he and Kaiyuan Tian on characters and events between the legend is particularly high. Chinese poetry ﹑ ﹑ notes there are many novels about his singing and recorded. Novel addition to the Hung-_set_ter, there are Wu Jing, "Kaiyuan source of peace and prosperity" (I said Chen Hong for). Guo Shi, "Lishi rumor," and so on, but his writing is all over Pu Zhi, a lack of literary merit.
* Since the late Tang Emperor Tang Wenzong pm *
Fantasy stories, such as "spirit should pass," wrote Dragon Lady nine dragons forced to resist that step, obtain the original Jiedushi Zhou Jing Bao aid his troops finally defeated that step dragons, more plot twists and turns, apparently by a "Liuyi" effects. "Dongyang recorded strange night," wrote scholar into the night on his way to vote from false shortage of houses, camels, asses the event Tuo ﹑ ﹑ barbed chicken, cats and other strange things, all into one, and composition and reciprocate each other and from the virtual talk with. Day will dawn, all blame are omitted, since the virtual visit of the doubt while, I realized that a strange thing, the last paragraph of ideas, rather with the "Biography of NanKe Prefect" close to the end. "Xu Xuan strange record" in the "Engagement shop," wrote "the god of marriage" in charge of the famous story of marriage books. "Legend" in the "Pei Air", written scholar Pei relay route in case of Lam Tin, Fairy, through hard work, get married in the story, but also widespread in future generations. "Xu Xuan strange record" in the "Du Zichun" theme of this in the "Buddhist Records" VII in the "martyrs Pool", written by Luo Tuo Du Zichun poor hygiene and poor governance. Case of a seasoned person, often to the capital. Hua Shan Taoist introduced after the entry, make it sit Immortality, not to be confused for all the outside world fantasy. Child early spring can Shoujie, reflected after son killed, suddenly developed a eh sound, then come to naught. Novel subject renounced this world in promoting the birth of Taoist thought, but describe detailed, showing a high artistic skills.
Huangfu pieces of "Sanshui small slips" in the "Step flying smoke" ﹑ Xue tune of "peerless biography" are love stories in the late works of art. The former was the concubine of Wu Kung-step non-tobacco industry's love tragedy, described in Wan Qu, quite the delight; who write off his cousin Liu Xian Wang unparalleled love and experienced joys and sorrows of the story, plot twists and turns, has a vivid description, though, after a Write a love-based, but the chivalric elements than in the past, "Liu's Biography", "Story of Huo," has been greatly increased. To the "legend" in the "Kunlun Nu" articles, written Kunlun Nu Le chivalrous extraordinary wear for Choi Shing Chuen their little students love the Lord, more than 10 heavy wall, rob a home of female Kabuki product Xunchen red raw silk, describing the key then turned from love chivalry.
Legendary album in some stories, though relatively simple plot, not enough detailed description, but the ideological content and progressive. Such as "Sanshui small slips" in "have to" write home slave Hunan observed to Geng, the face of the four son's dalliance, calmly deal with the design to be ridiculed, and demonstrated the resourcefulness and against the oppressed. Huangfu's "Original of mind" in the "Kyoto Confucian", write a Confucian claimed to have the courage Kyoto afraid of ghosts, haunted house places a night alone, heart Afterward, be utterly shameless, depicts an image of what it preaches and the intellectuals . The meaning of these works are short and Meaningful, then Ji Yun "Notes of" some of the poem, with similar styles.
Tang poetry developed and produced many poets and the creation of legends and stories. Part is also legendary. If a single chapter of Xu Gyosa "Liu's Biography" ﹑ Shen Ya the "Qin Dreams" album in such as "different mind _set_" and "Wang", "King Huan of", etc. fall into this category. Late Tang Fan vent "Cloud River Friends of the meeting" ﹑ Meng Qi "The Tale Poem" two books, mainly or exclusively the poet poems written story. Wei Chong Shangqing people talk Fang Dan, resulting in the "forest language", "Shi Shuo Xin Yu" and other sketches; Tangren Chong is still poetry, produced a "cloud River Friends of the meeting", "The Tale Poem" and other stories; from which one can see the special atmosphere of the times.
In summary, the Tang Dynasty legend rich in content, reflecting the broader area of social life, and some show a lover's joys and sorrows of men and women and social causes, and some forms of reflection through the illusion of the happy life of the beautiful people are good, some exposed the ugly phenomenon of the upper class, and some praise the courageous and gallant acts against the stubborn storm, mostly positive. Tang also contains many ideas dross, such as superstitious and fatalistic publicity to promote a woman is creature ﹑ troubles, mainly praise for personal gratitude and loyalty to the act of child, etc., should be noted that identification.
Tang future generations Literature
Tang to the Song the popular fictions that would have significant effect on the many themes and characters for the words used in this. According to Luo Ye Song "tippler on record" record, Song has a lot of stories compiled according to the words of the Tang Dynasty, but most of Disappearing. Ming the series, then the _set_ of "Qingpingshantang", "Three Words", "Amazing Stories", also preserved better drawn from the words of the Tang Dynasty. Legend of Poetic Narrative ﹑ ﹑ combination in the form of discussion, the so-called "Synthesis of Genres" characteristics, as well as a means of legendary character description, such as the more delicate details of the description, dialogue, vivid characters, so this also has the reference and development.
Legend of the language of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Legend of language, the general use of granular, but more than four words, syntax, more orderly, follows the tradition of the Six Ghost Stories. Six Ghost Stories such as "Immortals," and so on, more simple language, do not pay attention to the dual and rhetoric, at the time the distinction between "paper" "pen" of the climate, are "pen" of this kind, but due to popularity of parallel prose , part of the statement is relatively neat syntax, style and Parallel have close to side. Tang Legend of language, that is, the development along this road. Individual chapters such as "Fairy Cave", or even to parallel the main body, but most work though mixed parallel sentences, are basically still loose. However, as the author intended emphasis on literary styles, many works of language rather Hua Yan.
Legend of the Tang era of prosperity, Famous, and deeply all classical ﹑ Liu Han Yu atmosphere at that time under the influence, also wrote a few articles close to the legend, such as Han Yu's "Biography of Mao Ying," ﹑ Liu's "river transfer between" category. But they are not as legendary as interesting note about the story, focusing on the performance of the author liked, and literary grace, but such as Lu Xun said, "to Fable-based, text the word to the end," in fact "has nothing to Legend" ("History of Chinese Fiction Brief ").
Legend of the specific and detailed the general narrative, diction more Chinese Yan, classical is a brief narrative, diction strive quaint. Song Zhongyan "Yueyang Tower", written CASTLE see scenery, lay out more specific, syntax than the neat, close to the parallel style, prose writer Yoon-soo will be ridiculed as a "legend" ("the mountain Poetry"), this is quite sufficient explanation 2 those style differences. Therefore, the "Biography of Mao Ying," and other similar works, in fact, the text can not be regarded as legendary.
Tang Legend of clustering and research materials
Late Tang Tang Chenhan collect and record the many excellent chapters, compiled "smell different _set_ of" 10 volumes of the original book has been Lost, part of the "Taiping" which collect and record. Song, compiled by Li Fang and so on "Taiping" 500, Category compiled by Wei Han ﹑ ﹑ unofficial until the novel Song ﹑ miscellaneous notes, drawing AGF, is to preserve the Han and Tang Dynasties hotbed of fiction. Edited by Ming and Qing Dynasties, "says the sea", "Five Korean novel", "Tang Hui said," and other books, is often "jump the system table of contents, change title Composers" (Lu Xun, "Preface to the Collection case of Tang and Song Dynasty"), not by faith. "54" In the future, according to Lu Xun "princesses", "Taiping" and other books, eliminate the false and retain the true, post-mining ﹑ Song Tang Legend of single articles for the "Legend of the Tang and Song Collection", which attached to the end "side of a small barnyard suffix" Legend of the articles collected on their authors the Yellow River, this area of research in order to introduce a scientific way. After Pijiang also produced "Chinese novel" book, in addition to single articles, but also presents _select_ed part of the album's representative works of each chapter are instructions and famine with "Legend of the Tang and Song Collection" complementary parallel. Tang's album, most people also were points to be finishing school, has published a "Bo different ambitions", "different mind _set_", "legend" and so on.
Research: Lu Xun, "A Brief History of Chinese Fiction," in three articles on the characteristics of Tang ﹑ important writers and works of historical status, made a precise and appropriate discourse. Liu Kairong "Novels of the Tang Dynasty" (early 1947 edition, reissued in 1955, amended), _select_ the number of representative works, focusing on the background of the times.
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Legends in the Tang Dynasty which has three stories, called "Paper Moon", "take months", "stay on." Paper is on one person, can cut a paper moon light, take another month, be able to win to the moon on his arms, there is no time to look in the moon, the third person to stay on, the moonlight on his basket inside, black out look in the days when. Very simple, a hundred characters, hundreds of words. Thus brought Pu wrote "Laoshandaoshi." This is all very familiar story of Liao Zhai.
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