刘向编撰《新序》、《说苑》的主要目的在于说理。二书各卷中对于材料的组织安排并非是无序的。经过仔细研究可以发现,编撰者是先收集材料,然后再在材料的整理编排中明确主题。因此,各材料(“章”)之间,往往是在某一主题下的分配,也可以说是被某一思想贯串起来的。反过来,这些材料在编排上又起到强化主题的作用,其表现形式主要有对照、连贯等。此外,二书各卷中往往出现一系列事件情节大体相同的材料,有时一个结束,另一个接着出现,中间很少有停顿或过渡。像这样连贯出现的故事,也是作者为了强化主题而特意编排的。 Liu Xiang’s compilation of “New Preface”, “Shuyuan” is the main purpose of reasoning. The organization of the materials in the two volumes is not disordered. After careful study, we can see that the compilers collect the materials first, and then clear the topics in the material arrangement. Therefore, the distribution of materials (“chapters”) is often under a certain theme, or it can be said to be consistent with certain ideas. In turn, these materials play an enhanced role in the orchestration, and their manifestations are mainly contrast and coherence. In addition, there are often a series of materials in the two volumes that are roughly the same in the events, sometimes one ends and the other ensues, with very few pauses or transitions. Stories like this coherently appear, but also the author specially arranged to strengthen the theme.