陈钟凡先生所著的《中国韵文通论》出版于1927年,是我国首部对诗、词、曲、赋四种文体进行全面介绍的韵文文学史。《中国韵文通论》之成书可能受到清代扬州学派文学观,特别是阮元的“文必有韵”说,以及焦循的文学“一代有一代之胜”之说的影响。《中国韵文通论》与之前的文学史不同之处在于,其有一定的体系性,而且极具近代学术的眼光,对当时中国学界和日本汉学界的最新研究成果皆能加以吸收。《中国韵文通论》摆脱了民国初年文学史书写与学术史不分的格局,专以韵文为研究对象,对“纯文学”的韵文观念的传播也有很大的促进作用。
An Introduction to Chinese Rhyme Hterature ( Zhongguo Yunwen Tonglun ) written by Chen Zhongfan was published in 1927, which is the first history of rhyme literature focusing on a general introduction to Shi, Ci, Qu and Fu. Its completion as a book may be influenced the literature view of the Yangzhou School in the Qing Dynasty, especially Ruan Yuan' s idea of "literature with rhyme" and Jiao Sheng' s statement of "each generation with its own prominence". Its difference from the previous literature history lies in its certain systema- ticity and obviously contemporary academic vision, which takes advantage of the latest research achievements at that time among the Chinese academia and the sinology circle in Japan. Breaking away from the pattern of no distinction between the writing of literature history and that of academic history in the early Republic Period, An Introduction to Chinese Rhyme Literature focuses on the study of rhyme literature, significantly promoting the spread of rhyme ideas about "pure literature".