在目前兩岸可見的台灣文學史著述中，談及新文學的發展，大抵是從二〇年代初期陳炘、陳端明、黃朝琴……等人鼓吹白話文的奠基之功論起，並以一九二四年後所爆發的新舊文學論戰為主要敘述焦點，如此的書寫，暗示了研究者將臺灣新文學的興起視為與傳統文學的決裂與對立，但此等「斷裂關係」的呈現是否為描述臺灣文學由「舊」到「新」的發展進程的唯一視角？本文從追求「現代性」的角度出發，發現一八九五年至一九二四年間臺人在面臨西風東漸的時代新變下，對於新知、新學的強烈可求所造成的社會內部改革動力的長期需求，可能更是日後具現代特質的「新文學」得以成功醞釀的重要原因；而其中，向居文壇領導地位的傳統文人，在「舊」文學向「新」文學過渡時代所發表的若干文學改良言論，對新文學的發展也做出支援與滋養，發揮了一定程度的催化之功。因此，就此而言，新舊文學間也能存有連續而非斷裂的結構關係。其次，自追求現代文明的論述基礎上，本文更進一步探索臺灣文人既以肆應時局而致力文學改良，本當有利於早早刺激新文學的興起，卻因本至臺時再度確立以漢詩為主流的舊文學社會型態，以及其他文化、政治、社會等因素的制約影響，以致強化新舊文學相互對峙的緊張關係，而導致臺灣新文學萌芽的時機遠較日本、中國晚了許久，成為「遲到」的臺灣新文學。

Current discussions of the history of Taiwanese literature often take the 1920s as the dawn of Taiwanese New Literature when scholars like Chen Xin (), Chen Duan-ming (B), and Huang Chao-qin () advocated the use of vernacular Chinese (X). Focus of the discussion has been on the debate between the New and Old Literature. Such emphasis seems to imply that the rise of the Taiwanese New Literature is viewed as an enemy of the Old Literature. Does such 'enmity' exist between the two? Or is such "broken relationship" is the only perspective when view- ing the development of the two literatures? From a different viewpoint, this paper explores the desire and urge for new learning and new literature among the Taiwanese under the spread of Western influence from 1895-1924, which fostered the rise of the New Literature. Furthermore, during the transition from the 'Old' to 'New', traditional scholars with great influence in the literary arena also issued statements advocating for literature reform. This gave support and impetus to the new changes, thus catalyzing the development of the New Literature. Hence, rather than broken, the relationship between the New and Old Literature is a continued one. While the ground seemed to be ready for literary reform and the rise of the New Literature, its growth was affected by the Japanese emphasis of Han Poetry (A) as the social model of the Old Literature. Cultural, political and social constraints further intensified the tension between the Old and New Literature. As a result, the dawn and rise of the New Literature in Taiwan came much later its counterpart in Japan and China.

臺灣;新文學;傳統文學;過渡時代;現代性;對立史觀

Taiwan new literature; Traditional literature; Transition period; Modernity; Opposition position based on historical view