关键词: “性灵”诗论, 符号, 皮尔斯

Abstract: “Personal Nature (Hsing-ling),Spiritual Nature (Shen-yün) and Formal Style (Ko-tiao)” are acknowledged as three poetic theories in the early Qing Dynasty,which are the synchronic expressions of Chinese classical poetics in the diachronic pedigree of literary theories.“Hsing-ling,” in particular,has been reexamined within modern context by some critics.This paper attempts to interpret Hsing-ling poetics from three dimensions using C.S.Peirce's semiotic theory:the subject,the sign and the structure.The study demonstrates that three main characteristics are embodied in Hsing-ling poetics.First,Hsing-ling poetry presents a continuous understanding between the subject (the school of poets) and the object (poetics),suggesting a process of an infinite recursion.Second,the sign relation of “truth” and “change” embedded in Hsing-ling poetry is a reflection of the literati's attitude towards the retro trend of thought upon the coordination of social reality.Third,the structure of “gusto”(ch'ü) can be viewed as an artistic expression of Hsing-ling poetry.Through the interpretative illustration,the paper contends that Hsing-ling poetics is a representation of repeated semiotic sets of Chinese literati's “narcissistic” consciousness in their times.The unity of self-referentiality and rationality of poetic language,to some extent,conveys their sympathy for human nature and admiration for individuality through brilliant literary talents.The paper not only opens up a new way for modern philosophical speculation of ancient Chinese literary theories,but also provides a new perspective for the Chinese interpretation of world semiotics.

Key words: Hsing-ling Poetics, sign, Peirce