唐代的文言短篇小說﹐內容多傳述奇聞異事﹐後人稱為唐代傳奇，或稱唐傳奇。
唐代傳奇的繁榮及其原因
中國小說在魏晉南北朝時期還處於萌芽階段﹐當時大量的是記述神靈鬼怪的志怪小說﹐少數記人事的小說如《世說新語》﹐則多記上層人士的談吐和軼事。這些小說﹐大抵篇幅短小﹐文筆簡約﹐缺少具體的描繪。到唐代傳奇産生﹐情況有了很大的改變。唐代傳奇內容除部分記述神靈鬼怪外﹐大量記載人間的各種世態﹐人物有上層的﹐也有下層的﹐反映面較過去遠為廣阔﹐生活氣息也較為濃厚。在藝術形式上﹐篇幅加長﹐“敘述宛轉﹐文辭華豔﹐與六朝之粗陳梗概者較﹐演進之跡甚明”（魯迅《中國小說史略》）﹔部分作品還塑造了鮮明動人的人物形象。唐代傳奇的出現﹐標志著中國古代短篇小說於成熟。宋洪邁說:“唐人小說﹐不可不熟。小小情事﹐凄惋欲絶﹐洵有神遇而不自知者。與詩律可稱一代之奇。”（《唐人說薈》例言引）他把唐傳奇同唐詩相提並論﹐給予很高的評價。
唐代傳奇的繁榮﹐有一定的歷史﹑社會原因。唐朝統一中國以後﹐長期來社會比較安定﹐農業和工商業都得到發展﹐象長安﹑洛陽﹑揚州﹑成都等一些大城市﹐人口衆多﹐經濟繁榮。為了適應廣大市民和統治階層文娛生活的需要﹐在這類大城市中﹐民間的“說話”(講故事)藝術應運而生。當時佛教興盛﹐佛教徒也利用這種通俗的文藝形式演唱佛經故事或其他故事﹐以招徠聽衆﹑宣揚佛法﹐於是又産生了大量變文﹐促進了“說話”藝術的發展。從民間到上層﹐說話普遍受到人們的喜愛。郭湜《高力士外傳》記載﹐唐玄宗晚年生活寂寞﹐高力士經常讓他聽“轉變說話”即說變文和小說以解悶取樂。王建《觀蠻妓》﹑吉師老《看蜀女轉昭君變》詩﹐都說到了女妓演唱王昭君的故事。《目連救母變文》的故事則為白居易﹑張祜所熟悉和引用(孟棨《本事詩》﹑王定保《唐摭言》)。段成式《酉陽雜俎》續集《貶誤》篇記他於太和年間觀雜戲﹐中有“市人小說”﹐講名醫扁鵲的故事。所謂“市人小說”﹐即指街坊藝人講說的故事。當時文人聚會時﹐也有以“說話”消遣的。元稹《酬白學士代書一百韻》詩:“翰墨題名盡﹐光陰聽話移。”自註:“樂天每與餘遊從﹐無不書名題壁﹐又嘗於新昌宅說‘一枝花話’﹐自寅至巳﹐猶未畢詞也。”“一枝花話”講的就是白行簡《李娃傳》所記的故事﹐歷四個時辰﹐即今八個小時尚未講完﹐可見敘述非常細緻。在某些唐傳奇篇末﹐往往述及本文的寫作是由於朋友間的“說話”﹐如“晝宴夜話”(《任氏傳》)﹑“宵話徵異”(《廬江馮媼傳》)﹑“話及此事”(《長恨傳》)﹑“因話奇事”(《續玄怪錄‧尼妙寂》)等。文士間流行“說話”風氣﹐其“說話”藝術又很細緻﹐是促使唐傳奇大量産生並取得突出成就的一個重要原因。
唐代科舉取士﹐重視文學。在各科中﹐考試詩賦雜文的進士科最受重視。士人應試之前﹐常以所作詩文投獻名公巨卿﹐以求稱譽﹐擴大社會名聲﹐為考中進士科創造條件﹐當時稱之為“行捲”。傳奇文也常用作“行捲”。宋趙彥衛《雲麓漫鈔》說﹐“唐代士人行捲﹐逾數日又投﹐謂之‘溫捲’﹐如《幽怪錄》﹑《傳奇》等皆是也”。傳奇以敘事為主﹐文體近於野史﹐中間常穿插詩歌韻語﹐結尾綴以小段議論﹐即所謂“文備衆體”。唐代後期傳奇專集産生頗多﹐大約同這種“行捲”﹑“溫捲”風尚有關。但趙彥衛的說法﹐在唐宋文獻資料中缺乏有力佐證﹐因而有的研究者對此表示懷疑。
魏晉南北朝作者把小說作為記錄異聞奇事的野史一類看待﹐略敘梗概﹐不講究語言的藻飾。《文心雕竜》詳述各種文體﹐下及諧辭隱語，於小說一類卻衹字不提。說明在當時區分文筆﹐註意藻繪的風氣中﹐志怪記人之類的小說﹐因缺乏文采而不為論者所重視。唐傳奇情況則大不相同。魯迅說﹕唐人“始有意為小說”﹐認為“傳奇者流﹐源蓋出於志怪﹐然施之藻繪﹐擴其波瀾﹐故所成就乃特異。其間雖亦或托諷喻以紓牢愁﹐談禍福以寓懲勸﹐而大歸則究在文采與意想﹐與昔之傳鬼神明因果而外無他意者﹐甚異其趣矣。”（《中國小說史略》）這就指出了唐傳奇作者是有意識地進行文學創作﹐虛構麯折情節﹐註意語言華美﹐富於文采與意想﹐從而取得了突出的文學成就。
繼南北朝之後﹐佛道兩教在唐代有進一步的發展﹐在社會上廣泛流行。兩教的經典和文藝作品﹐如變文﹑壁畫等其中包含著不少情節離奇麯折﹑想象豐富奇特的故事。它們對一部分唐傳奇(主要是神怪一類作品)的題材﹑構思以至細緻的描繪有一定影響﹐同時也給它們羼入了大量宗教迷信的雜質。
唐代傳奇的發展過程
歷經前期，中期和後期三個階段。
*前期自唐初至唐肅宗時*
前期作品現存很少﹐質量也不及中期﹐但已顯示出唐傳奇的特色和創新精神。唐傳奇中最早的《古鏡記》，相傳為隋末唐初人王度作﹐內容不脫六朝志怪小說餘風。它以古鏡為綫索﹐把十多個怪異故事聯綴起來組成長篇﹐敘述較為細緻﹐較之筆記式的六朝小說是一大進步。《補江總白猿傳》一般推測亦為前時期作品。作者不詳﹐內容屬志怪一類﹐情節較麯折﹐描繪也較具體生動﹐初步顯示出唐傳奇的藝術創新特色。《古鏡》﹑《白猿》兩篇﹐標志著中國小說從六朝志怪嚮唐傳奇發展的過渡形態。
唐高宗﹑武則天時﹐有張鷟所撰《遊仙窟》﹐自敘途中夜投大宅﹐逢兩女子宴飲調戲﹐停一宿而去。內容輕薄﹐似為狎妓生活的反映﹐文辭華豔淺俗﹐特多駢儷語句﹐且常穿插詩歌韻語﹐體製與唐代民間講唱文學相近﹐當是受其影響。
唐玄宗﹑唐肅宗時﹐史稱盛唐。這時期詩歌繁榮﹐傳奇相對顯得寂寞。當時張說曾作傳奇文。王仁裕《開元天寶遺事》捲上《鸚鵡告事》條載﹕長安豪民楊崇義為妻劉氏及其情夫謀殺﹐他人莫知。後因堂前架上鸚鵡告發﹐始得破案。朝廷因“封鸚鵡為緑衣使者﹐付後宮養餵之﹐張說後為《緑衣使者傳》﹐好事者傳之”。同書捲下《傳書燕》條載﹕長安豪民郭行先之女紹蘭﹐嫁富商任宗。任宗南下經商﹐經年不歸。紹蘭吟詩係於燕足﹐燕果南飛遞與任宗。宗次年遂歸傢。“後文士張說傳其事﹐而好事者寫之”。但張說的這兩篇小說原文均已失傳。另有《虯髯客傳》﹑《說郛》﹑《虞初志》皆題張說作﹐但尚缺少更確鑿可靠的證據。
張鷟《遊仙窟》﹑張說《緑衣使者傳》等﹐都描寫了市民生活﹐說明這時期的傳奇﹐有些已在內容題材上擺脫了六朝志怪小說傳統﹐著重表現人情世態﹐嚮新的領域擴展。
唐前期也産生過一些小說專集﹐如唐臨《冥報記》﹑趙自勤《定命錄》﹑戴孚《廣異記》等(顧況《戴氏廣異記序》)。這些專集原書已佚﹐部分保存在《太平廣記》中。內容大抵記述神怪和因果報應之事﹐沿襲六朝志怪傳統﹐缺少創造性﹑文字一般也頗簡質﹐僅少數篇章敘述較為宛麯。又有牛肅的《紀聞》。記述內容稍廣泛﹐有些篇章頗有文采。例如《吳保安》寫吳保安﹑郭仲翔兩人生死不渝的友誼﹐描敘細緻動人﹐《新唐書》曾采其事入《忠義傳》。它和《虯髯客傳》雖一寫實事﹐一為虛構﹐但都是表現俠義一類人物﹐突破了志怪的傳統。
*中期唐代宗至唐文宗時*
中期是唐傳奇的繁榮階段﹐作品多﹐名傢也多﹐一些最優秀的單篇傳奇﹐幾乎都産生在這一時期。魯迅曾指出:“惟自大歷以至大中中﹐作者雲蒸﹐鬱術文苑﹐瀋既濟﹑許堯佐擢秀於前﹐蔣防﹑元稹振采於後﹐而李公佐﹑白行簡﹑陳鴻﹑瀋亞之輩﹐則其卓異也。”(《唐宋傳奇集》敘例)這時期的傳奇作品﹐從內容題材上看﹐大致可分為神怪﹑愛情﹑歷史﹑俠義諸類。其中有些作品內容交叉﹐如神怪兼愛情類的題材就很多﹐其他題材也有結合的。
神怪類：講的是神仙鬼怪一類故事。題材雖沿襲六朝志怪小說的傳統﹐但內容﹑形式都具有新的特色。瀋既濟《枕中記》﹑李公佐《南柯太守傳》﹐分別寫盧生﹑淳於棼於夢中位極宰相﹐權勢赫﹐夢醒覺悟﹐皈依宗教。主題為表現人世榮華富貴如夢境之空虛﹐不足憑恃。題材接受南朝志怪小說《幽明錄》中《焦湖廟祝》的影響。但《焦湖廟祝》全文僅百餘字﹐寫楊林在枕中婚宦得意之事不過數十字。敘述簡略﹔《枕中》﹑《南柯》兩篇則篇幅較長﹐描繪具體﹐委麯細緻﹐顯示出“施之藻繪﹐擴其波瀾”的特色。而且由於把夢境中的仕途榮遇與波折鋪敘得淋漓盡致﹐也間接反映了當時朝廷和官場的某些情況﹐具有一定的現實意義。此外﹐《古嶽瀆經》﹑《廬江馮媼傳》﹑《三夢記》﹑《周秦行紀》等﹐或述神鬼﹐或記奇夢﹐也屬於這一類。
神怪兼愛情類：瀋既濟《任氏傳》﹐寫狐精化為美女任氏﹐與貧士鄭六同居﹐任氏不僅豔麗非凡﹐善良聰慧﹐並能抗禦犟暴﹐形象動人﹐為後世《聊齋志異》等著重寫狐精故事的先導﹐故事文筆也較其《枕中記》更為細膩。陳玄佑《離魂記》﹐寫張倩娘為了追隨愛人王宙﹐魂魄與軀體相離。李朝威《柳毅傳》﹐寫書生柳毅傳書搭救洞庭竜女脫離睏境後﹐幾經麯折﹐終於與竜女結為夫婦﹐情節離奇﹐性格鮮明﹐鋪敘細緻﹐文辭華豔﹐為唐傳奇中的傑作。李景亮《李章武傳》﹐寫李章武與華州街坊婦女王氏一度熱戀﹐王氏病故後﹐鬼魂與重遊舊地﹑夜居其宅的李章武追敘歡情。汪闢疆稱其敘述“文筆婉麯﹐凄豔感人”﹐並謂《聊齋志異》專學此種筆法（《唐人小說》）。這些篇章﹐實際寫的都是以愛情婚姻為主的人情世態﹐如果剝去其神怪外衣﹐就是優秀的愛情小說﹐另外﹐沉亞之《湘中怨解》﹑《異夢錄》﹑《秦夢記》三篇﹐也屬這一類作品。敘事雖較簡約﹐但多詩歌﹐饒有韻緻﹐表現出作者要眇的情思。
愛情類：除上述以神怪形式出現的愛情故事外﹐還有一些專寫人間愛情的傳奇。如許堯佐《柳氏傳》﹐寫詩人韓翊（一作“韓翃”）與柳氏相愛﹐經動亂離散﹐最後團圓的故事。此事也見於孟棨《本事詩》﹐當為實事。又如白行簡《李娃傳》﹐寫滎陽大族鄭生熱戀長安倡女李娃﹐屢經波折﹐幾經喪生﹐終獲美好結局。蔣防《霍小玉傳》，寫陝西李益與長安倡傢霍小玉相愛﹐後登第授官﹐遂致負心。這兩篇傳奇﹐都以世族子弟與妓女的戀愛為題材﹐有其現實意義。唐代士人以娶名門女子為榮﹐因這種聯姻有利於仕進和提高社會地位。世族子弟溺愛倡妓﹐一般說來衹能是暫時的風流韻事。李娃在鄭生登第授官後﹐要求離去﹐並勸鄭生“當結媛鼎族”。霍小玉也自知與李益的同居生活不能持久﹐衹求暫度八年﹐當李益滿30歲時﹐再“妙選高門”。這裏反映了森嚴的階級界限和真摯愛情之間的深刻矛盾。兩篇傳奇的主要人物性格鮮明突出﹐情節麯折﹐波瀾起伏﹐文筆細膩生動﹐與《南柯太守傳》﹑《柳毅傳》﹑《虯髯客傳》等篇﹐共同標志著唐傳奇藝術的高峰。在這類作品中﹐元稹的《鶯鶯傳》也很著名。篇中刻畫鶯鶯性格尤為深刻細緻。
歷史類：以陳鴻的《長恨歌傳》和《東城老父傳》為代表。《長恨歌傳》前半寫唐玄宗寵幸楊貴妃﹐朝政腐敗﹐招致安史之亂﹐暴露了玄宗後期的黑暗現實。後半寫楊妃死後﹐玄宗日夜思念﹐有蜀地方士為至蓬壺仙山訪得楊妃﹐故事純出虛構﹐但敘述宛麯﹐富有情緻。同時有白居易所作《長恨歌》與傳文相配合。《東城老父傳》寫賈昌少年時以善於鬥雞得玄宗愛幸﹐聲勢赫﹐從側面反映了玄宗後期的荒淫生活。後安史亂起﹐昌傢道中落﹐依佛寺為生。文中寫鬥雞一段較生動﹐但大部分敘述質直﹐不及《長恨歌傳》文采斐然。唐玄宗當國近五十年﹐是唐代由盛轉衰的一個關鍵性歷史人物。他前期勵精圖治﹐英明有為﹔後期迷信方士﹐耽溺女色﹐信用姦佞﹐招致禍亂。他又長於詩歌音樂﹐富有纔藝。因此關於他和開元天寶年間人物事件的傳說特別多。唐人詩文﹑筆記﹑小說中也有許多有關他的歌詠和記載。小說除上述陳鴻二傳外﹐尚有吳兢《開元升平源》(一說陳鴻作)。郭湜《高力士外傳》等﹐但文筆都較樸直﹐缺少文學性。
俠義類：這類小說在唐中期還較少﹐李公佐有《謝小娥傳》。寫謝小娥的父親﹑丈夫為盜申蘭﹑申春所殺。小娥女扮男裝﹐傭於申蘭傢﹐終於設計殺蘭擒春﹐表現了智勇俱備的俠義精神。瀋亞之《馮燕傳》﹐寫馮燕與滑州將張嬰妻私通﹐後嬰妻授刀於馮令殺其夫﹐馮怒其不義而殺之﹐及聞嬰為此蒙屈將戮﹐復挺身出而自首﹐也表現了犯法後勇於承擔責任的豪俠作風。此外﹐如《柳毅傳》中的錢塘君﹐《柳氏傳》中的許俊﹐《霍小玉傳》中的黃衫客﹐也都屬於俠義一類人物﹐但在全篇中不是主要角色。這類小說在唐晚期有較大的發展。
*後期自唐文宗時至唐末*
後期單篇傳奇現存很少﹐寫得較好的是薛調《無雙傳》﹑無名氏《靈應傳》﹑《東陽夜怪錄》諸篇。傳奇專集則大量出現﹐尉成風氣。其中比較著名的﹐除牛僧孺《玄怪錄》﹑李復言《續玄怪錄》可能在文宗朝稍前時期所作外﹐計有鄭還古《博異志》﹑薛用弱《集異記》﹑張讀《宣室志》﹑袁郊《甘澤謠》﹑裴鉶《傳奇》﹑康駢《劇談錄》﹑皇甫枚《三水小牘》等。傳奇專集中的作品﹐不盡是編撰者的創作﹐如《續玄怪錄》中的《尼妙寂》﹐采自李公佐《謝小娥傳》而略有變化﹐《博異志》中的《瀋亞之》條﹐采自瀋亞之《異夢錄》。由於專集大量産生﹐作品數量遠遠超過前兩期﹔但除有一部分寫得比較細緻生動外﹐多數篇幅短小﹐敘事簡略﹐記述神怪。復與六朝志怪小說接近﹐文學成就則遠遜於中期的單篇傳奇。
神怪故事中﹐如《靈應傳》寫竜女九娘子抗拒朝那小竜逼婚﹐求得涇原節度使周寶發兵援助﹐終於戰勝朝那小竜﹐情節較為麯折﹐顯然受了《柳毅傳》的影響。《東陽夜怪錄》寫秀纔成自虛途中夜投荒宅﹐遇橐駝﹑驢﹑雞﹑貓﹑刺等物怪﹐各化為人﹐互相賦詩酬答﹐並與自虛談論。天將曉﹐諸怪均隱去﹐自虛疑而訪之﹐乃知是物怪﹐末段構思﹐頗與《南柯太守傳》結尾接近。《續玄怪錄》中的《定婚店》﹐寫的是“月下老人”掌管婚姻簿册的著名故事。《傳奇》中的《裴航》﹐寫秀纔裴航於藍田驛遇仙女﹐經過艱苦努力﹐終成眷屬的故事﹐也廣泛流傳於後世。《續玄怪錄》中的《杜子春》﹐題材本於《大唐西域記》捲七中“烈士池”﹐寫杜子春因落拓不善治生而貧睏。遇一老道人﹐常資給之。後道人引之入華山﹐令其靜坐求仙﹐勿為一切外界幻境所惑。子春初能守戒﹐後見其愛子被殺﹐忽發噫聲﹐遂前功盡弃。小說主旨在宣傳道教棄絶塵俗的出世思想﹐但描摹細緻﹐表現了較高的藝術技巧。
皇甫枚《三水小牘》中的《步飛煙》﹑薛調的《無雙傳》是後期愛情小說中傑出的作品。前者寫武公業之妾步非煙的愛情悲劇﹐敘述宛麯﹐頗有情緻﹔後者寫王仙客與其表妹劉無雙相愛而歷經悲歡離合的故事﹐情節麯折﹐描寫亦生動﹐後一篇雖以寫愛情為主﹐但俠義成分比過去的《柳氏傳》﹑《霍小玉傳》已大為加重。至《傳奇》中的《昆侖奴》篇﹐寫昆侖奴磨勒勇武不凡﹐為成全其少主崔生的愛情﹐逾墻垣十重﹐劫取一品勳臣傢的女伎紅綃﹐描寫重點則已由愛情轉嚮了俠義。
《甘澤謠》中的《紅綫》和《傳奇》中的《聶隱娘》﹐專寫俠女行盜行刺﹑參與藩鎮之間鬥爭的故事。唐代中後期﹐統治階級內部鬥爭劇烈﹐行刺之事﹐時有所聞。宰相武元衡﹑裴度﹑李石等均曾遇刺。柳珵《上清傳》也寫到唐德宗斥責宰相竇參“蓄養俠刺”。《紅綫》﹑《聶隱娘》兩篇﹐反映了當時藩鎮間尖銳鬥爭的現實﹐篇中所寫的俠士﹐或能騰空飛行﹐或有超人的武藝﹐實際上是把俠士神化了﹐這種情況為過去的俠義故事所未見﹐當是受流行的宗教迷信(主要是道教)的影響﹐成為後世武俠小說的灠觴。至於《玄怪錄》中的《郭元振》﹐寫元振夜斬豬妖﹐為民除害﹐則又是把俠義﹑神怪兩類題材結合起來了。
傳奇專集中還有一些小故事﹐雖然情節比較單純﹐描寫也不夠細緻﹐但思想內容具有進步意義。如《三水小牘》中的《卻要》寫湖南觀察使李庚傢女奴﹐面對四位公子的調戲﹐從容應付﹐設計加以揶揄﹐表現了被壓迫者的機智和反抗。皇甫氏《原化記》中的《京都儒士》﹐寫京都一儒士自稱有膽氣不畏鬼怪﹐某夜獨宿兇宅﹐心中驚怖﹐醜態畢露﹐刻畫了一個言行不一致的知識分子形像。這類作品篇幅短小而含意雋永﹐後來紀昀《閱微草堂筆記》中的某些篇什﹐風格與之相近。
唐代詩歌發達﹐産生了不少關於詩人及其創作的傳說和故事。其中一部分也富有傳奇色彩。單篇中如許堯佐《柳氏傳》﹑沉亞之《秦夢記》﹐專集中如《集異記》的《王維》﹑《王渙之》等均屬此類。晚唐範攄《雲溪友議》﹑孟棨《本事詩》兩書﹐主要或專門記載有關詩人詩作的故事。魏晉人崇尚清談放誕﹐産生了《語林》﹑《世說新語》等筆記小說﹔唐人崇尚詩歌﹐産生了《雲溪友議》﹑《本事詩》等故事集﹔從中都可以看出一個時代的特殊風氣。
綜上所述﹐唐代傳奇的內容豐富多彩﹐反映的社會生活面較廣﹐有的表現了男女情人的悲歡離合及社會原因﹐有的通過幻想形式反映了人們對幸福生活的美好理想﹐有的暴露了上層社會的種種醜惡現象﹐有的歌頌了見義勇為﹐反抗犟暴的豪俠行為﹐大都具有積極意義。唐傳奇也包含著許多思想糟粕﹐如宣傳鬼神迷信和宿命論﹐宣揚女人是尤物﹑禍水﹐贊美出於個人感恩而為主子效忠的行徑等等﹐應註意鑒別。
唐傳奇對後代文學的影響
唐代傳奇對後代小說﹑戲麯及講唱文學有較大的影響。傳奇體成為宋以後歷代文言短篇小說的主要樣式﹐即使在白話小說興起後﹐仍有一定勢力。宋代就出現過不少傳奇作品﹐雖然一般說來寫得比較平實﹐缺少飛動的文采﹐但也有一些流傳的佳篇﹐如魯迅《唐宋傳奇集》中收錄的《緑珠傳》﹑《楊太真外傳》和《梅妃傳》﹑《李師師外傳》等。明代著名的傳奇小說有瞿佑的《剪燈新話》﹑李禎的《剪燈餘話》和邵景瞻的《覓燈因話》。其中《剪燈新話》的文筆意境﹐頗能新人耳目。清代蒲鬆齡的《聊齋志異》更是繼承並發展了唐傳奇人物形像鮮明﹑故事情節麯折﹑語言華豔生動的特色﹐獲得了巨大的成就。
唐傳奇對宋以後的白話短篇小說即話本也有明顯影響﹐很多題材和人物為話本所采用。據宋羅燁《醉翁談錄》記載﹐宋代已有不少根據唐傳奇故事編成的話本﹐但多亡佚。明人所輯話本集《清平山堂話本》﹑“三言”﹐“二拍”中﹐也保存了好些取材於唐傳奇的話本。傳奇中敘事﹑詩筆﹑議論結合的形式﹐即所謂“文備衆體”的特點﹐以及傳奇描寫人物的手段﹐如比較細膩的細節描寫﹐傳神的人物對話等﹐話本也都有所藉鑒和發展。
唐傳奇的題材﹑故事對後世戲麯以及講唱文學的影響﹐一嚮為研究者們所註意。大凡著名的傳奇故事﹐在後代都各自産生若幹同一題材的戲麯。最為人所知的是《長恨歌傳》對元代王伯成的諸宮調《天寶遺事》﹑白樸的雜劇《梧桐雨》和清代洪升的傳奇戲麯《長生殿》的影響﹐《鶯鶯傳》對宋代趙令畤的《崔鶯鶯雙調蝶戀花鼓子詞》﹑元代王實甫的《西廂記》的影響﹐《霍小玉傳》﹑《枕中記》﹑《南柯太守傳》對湯顯祖的傳奇戲麯“玉茗堂四夢”的影響等等。由於唐傳奇成為後世戲麯﹑小說汲取題材進行再創作的寶庫之一﹐因而有人把這種現象與希臘神話對後來歐洲文學的影響相比擬。
唐代傳奇的語言
唐代傳奇的語言﹐一般運用散體﹐但多四字句﹐句法較整齊﹐沿襲了六朝志怪小說的傳統。六朝志怪小說如《搜神記》等﹐語言比較質樸﹐不講究對偶和辭藻﹐在當時區別“文”“筆”的風氣下﹐屬於“筆”這一類﹐但因受駢文盛行的影響﹐一部分語句句法比較整齊﹐風格上也有與駢文接近的一面。唐代傳奇的語言﹐就是沿著這一路子發展的。個別篇章如《遊仙窟》﹐甚至以駢體為主﹐但多數作品雖夾雜駢句﹐基本上仍是散體。不過由於作者有意重視文采﹐不少作品語言頗為華豔。
中唐時代傳奇繁榮﹐名篇迭出﹐古文大傢韓愈﹑柳宗元在當時風氣影響下﹐也寫了幾篇接近傳奇的文章﹐如韓愈的《毛穎傳》﹑柳宗元的《河間傳》之類。但它們不象傳奇那樣註意講述有趣味的故事﹐著重表現作者的意想和文采﹐而是如魯迅所說“以寓言為本﹐文詞為末”﹐其實“無涉於傳奇”（《中國小說史略》）。
傳奇敘事一般具體細緻﹐文辭比較華豔﹐古文則敘事簡略﹐文辭力求古雅。宋范仲淹《嶽陽樓記》﹐寫登樓所見景物﹐鋪陳較為具體﹐句法亦較整齊﹐接近駢體﹐便被古文傢尹洙譏為“傳奇”（《後山詩話》）﹐此事頗足說明二者文風的區別。所以《毛穎傳》等一類作品﹐實際上不能算作傳奇文。
唐代傳奇的結集和研究資料
晚唐陳翰采錄唐傳奇的許多優秀篇章﹐編成《異聞集》10捲﹐原書已佚﹐其中一部分為《太平廣記》所采錄。宋初李昉等所編《太平廣記》500捲﹐分類編纂漢﹑魏以迄宋初的小說﹑野史﹑雜記等﹐取材宏富﹐是保存漢魏六朝和唐代小說的淵藪。明清時代所編的《說海》﹑《五朝小說》﹑《唐人說薈》等書﹐則往往“妄製篇目﹐改題撰人”（魯迅《唐宋傳奇集序例》）﹐不可憑信。“五四”以後﹐魯迅據《文苑英華》﹑《太平廣記》等書﹐去偽存真﹐專采唐﹑宋單篇傳奇為《唐宋傳奇集》一書﹐末附《稗邊小綴》﹐對所收各篇傳奇及其作者進行考訂﹐把這方面的整理研究工作引入科學化的道路。後汪闢疆又編《唐人小說》一書﹐除單篇外﹐還選錄了一部分專集中的代表作品﹐各篇均有說明考訂﹐可與《唐宋傳奇集》相輔並行。唐傳奇的專集﹐今人亦在分別加以校點整理中﹐已經出版的有《博異志》﹑《集異記》﹑《傳奇》等。
研究方面：魯迅《中國小說史略》中有3篇文章﹐對唐傳奇的特色﹑歷史地位與重要作傢作品﹐作了精當的論述。劉開榮《唐代小說研究》(1947年初版﹐1955年修訂重版)﹐選擇若幹代表作品﹐著重結合時代背景進行探討。
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在唐代傳奇當中，有三個小故事，叫《紙月》、《取月》、《留月》。紙月就是有一個人，能夠剪個紙的月亮照明，另一個人取月，能夠把月亮拿下來放在自己懷裏，沒有月亮時候照照，第三個人留月，把月光放在自己的籃子裏邊，黑天的時候拿出來照照。都很簡單，一百來個字，幾十個字。由此蒲鬆齡拿來寫了《嶗山道士》。這是大傢很熟悉的聊齋故事。
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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