在傳統中國文學的領域中，存在著這樣一個普遍的狀況：對絕大多數的士人來說 ，唯有在政治理想受挫之餘，他們方將生命重心轉移至文學創作之上，進而成就了諸多傳 世之佳作。而這種現象多少意味著，傳統士人相信藉由文學創作，將有助於他們超脫原本 理想受挫後所招至的苦痛。然而文學究竟為何具有此等功用，又此功用的效力究竟如何這 兩個重要的課題，卻始終未被他們認真反省與檢討過。是以本文方欲藉由柳宗元山水文學 特殊風貌的討論，對這些課題進行較深入的探索。希望藉由這樣的討論，能使吾人對中國 文學之特質所在，有更進一步的理解與體會。

　　　　　In the field of traditional Chinese literature, intellectuals often undertook the task of writing only after their political suggestions and ideas had been belittled, causing the creation of many classics. This phenomenon seems to indicate that traditional intellectuals believed that they could extricate themselves via their writings. However, how could writing do so and what functions did their writings take ﹖ After all, traditional intellectuals did not seriously discuss these works. This essay tries to answer these questions by studying Liu Zong-yuan's 柳宗元 landscape literature. On the basis of this study, we might obtain a deeper understanding of the character of Chinese literature.