《儒林外史》考补

吴敬梓《儒林外史》人物原型、故事本事、创作时间等都有考证的余地。如有关严贡生、严监生、成老爹、“添四客”等人物之若干重要情节各有所本，而由吴敬梓曾一度为塾师等可推论《外史》成书当在乾隆七年至十四年（1742-1749）之间，首尾8年。虽杂凑成文，但放眼广阔的文化背景深研一书，便可以从小处见大，有所收获。

Textual Research and Supplement of The Scholars

We can find much textual research leeway on the sources of characters, the original story, the creation time, etc. of Wu Jingzi's works The Scholars. This article makes an exploration on the possible origin of some important plots in which such characters as Yan Gongsheng, Yan Jiansheng, old fatter Cheng, four Guests, etc. are involved. Wu Jingzi was once a private tutor, from which we can deduce that The Scholars was finished during 7-14th (1742-1749) of Qianlong Period and its creation lasted 8 years. Although it is loosely organized, in a broad cultural setting, the novel still reflected a great of human nature and social reality.