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2022/23 School of Chinese Research Student Seminar

中世遺才：陸繼輅與嘉道時期常州的文人文化

Gifted Scholar in an Age of Mediocrity:

Lu Jilu and Literati Culture in Changzhou during the Jiaqing and Daoguang Periods

Speaker: Mr. YANG Shilin

Date: April 28, 2023 (Fri)

Time: 17:30 - 18:45

Language: Putonghua

Mode of Delivery: 100% Face-to-face

Venue: CPD-3.29, Central Podium Level 3, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

常州地區作為“中吳要輔”，具有深厚的文化底蘊，在清中葉全國各地的地方文化中獨樹一幟，龔自珍（1792-1841）有詩曾云：“天下名士有部落，東南無與常匹儔。”常州文人對晚清的歷史、思想、文學之發展，均有深遠影響。陸繼輅（1772-1834），字祁孫，號修平居士，江蘇陽湖人，為陽湖文派的代表人物之一，著有《崇百藥齋文集》等。陸繼輅的文名不及同時期的張惠言（1761-1802）、惲敬（1757-1817）等名家；仕途坎坷，僅在暮年任貴溪知縣；一生飽受疾病和貧窮的困擾，又屢傷親友之逝。陸繼輅主要生活在日益衰頹、社會亂象初現的嘉道時期（1796-1850），身不逢盛世且面對種種人生困境，如陸繼輅這樣的生活在社會中層的文人如何探索及實現自身價值，是值得關注的議題。本報告將以陸繼輅作為個案，以嘉道時期的動亂事件為切入點，探究他對戰亂及社會問題的思考，以及其中所寄寓的精神追求。

Changzhou is one of the centres of Wu culture, and Changzhou literati had a profound influence on the literary, intellectual and historical development of the mid to late Qing periods. Gong Zizhen (1792-1841) once wrote a poem: “Famous scholars gather in various places, but there is no place in the southeast that can rival Changzhou.” Lu Jilu (1772-1834) was a prominent figure of the Yanghu School in Changzhou, although his literary reputation pales in comparison to that of other esteemed scholars such as Zhang Huiyan and Yun Jing. Lu’s political career was bumpy, and he only became the magistrate of Guixi county in his late years. He endured poverty and illness throughout his life and was repeatedly struck by the loss of loved ones. As a scholar and literati who lived mainly during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods (1796-1850), an era characterized by increasing decline and social crisis, Lu’s case serves as a window for us to examine the self-realization of middle-level literati who suffered from numerous personal and social challenges. This study analyzes Lu’s view of the turmoil and wars of his time, and explores Lu’s personal pursuits embodied in his views on these social issues.

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