戴(dai)表元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)7歲能文(wen),詩(shi)文(wen)多(duo)奇語。早年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)入太(tai)學,師(shi)事南(nan)宋禮部尚(shang)書王應麟(lin)和舒岳祥等文(wen)學大師(shi)。南(nan)宋咸淳七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1271)中(zhong)(zhong)進(jin)士,授(shou)(shou)(shou)迪功(gong)郎,次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)授(shou)(shou)(shou)授(shou)(shou)(shou)建康(kang)府(今(jin)南(nan)京)教(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),德祐(you)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1275)遷臨安教(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),行戶(hu)部掌故,均不就(jiu),以(yi)兵(bing)亂歸剡。歸里(li)后讀經史,作(zuo)詩(shi)文(wen)。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)三月,元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)兵(bing)南(nan)下,避難天臺、鄞縣。祥興二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1279)復返里(li)。家素貧,戰亂毀(hui)劫后,生(sheng)活(huo)益艱,輾轉(zhuan)鄞縣、杭州等地,授(shou)(shou)(shou)徒賣文(wen)為生(sheng),門(men)生(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)以(yi)袁桷最(zui)負盛名。元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)至元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)二(er)十九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)|(1292)聘任奉(feng)化養正堂師(shi),與(yu)舒津、任士林(lin)等合修《奉(feng)化縣志》;元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)大德八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1304)61歲時,被人推(tui)薦為信州(今(jin)江西(xi)上饒)教(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),再調婺州,因病辭職。十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)歸里(li),后薦為修撰(zhuan)、博士,皆不赴,讀書吟詩(shi)以(yi)終。
戴表元著(zhu)有《剡(yan)(yan)源(yuan)集》、《剡(yan)(yan)源(yuan)佚(yi)文》、《剡(yan)(yan)源(yuan)佚(yi)詩(shi)(shi)》等。作品(pin)今存《剡(yan)(yan)源(yuan)文集》30卷,佚(yi)詩(shi)(shi)6卷,佚(yi)文2卷。
戴(dai)(dai)表元(yuan)(yuan)學識淵博,力主改革宋(song)末學者萎蔽風氣,以文章大(da)家名重(zhong)東南。詩文清新(xin)雅(ya)潔(jie),多傷時憫亂,同(tong)情民間疾(ji)(ji)苦,詠家鄉名山秀水(shui)。戴(dai)(dai)表元(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)一(yi)些(xie)詩流露著同(tong)情民生(sheng)疾(ji)(ji)苦的(de)(de)感情,例如(ru)《采藤行》描寫(xie)商人和手工業者,生(sheng)活較好,而農(nong)民卻承(cheng)擔著官府的(de)(de)沉重(zhong)賦稅,結果是“南村種麥空(kong)早熟,逐日(ri)扃門忍饑(ji)哭。”他另有些(xie)作品寓有對(dui)趙宋(song)王朝的(de)(de)故國之思,如(ru)《感舊歌(ge)者》,明代(dai)田汝成《西湖(hu)游覽志馀(yu)》稱(cheng)“戴(dai)(dai)帥(shuai)初(chu)湖(hu)上贈(zeng)歌(ge)者一(yi)絕,有故國之思焉。”此(ci)外如(ru)《通謝張可與參政書(shu)》、《二歌(ge)者傳》、《己卯歲(sui)初(chu)葺剡(yan)居(ju)》、《讀書(shu)有感》等,也屬此(ci)類。律詩雅(ya)秀,力變宋(song)詩積習(xi),靜細(xi)清新(xin),風致近晚唐。清顧(gu)嗣立《元(yuan)(yuan)詩選》評(ping)道:“剡(yan)源詩律雅(ya)秀,力變宋(song)季余習(xi)。”其詩文常被用作名言警句。
在(zai)元(yuan)初詩人(ren)中(zhong),戴表元(yuan)是鼓吹(chui)“唐(tang)(tang)風”、力矯宋詩之(zhi)(zhi)弊(bi)的有力人(ren)物,他在(zai)《洪潛甫詩序》云(yun):始時汴(bian)梁諸公言詩,絕無(wu)唐(tang)(tang)風,其博贍者謂之(zhi)(zhi)義山,豁達者謂之(zhi)(zhi)樂天而(er)(er)已(yi)矣。宣城梅(mei)圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)出(chu),一(yi)變(bian)(bian)而(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)沖淡。沖淡之(zhi)(zhi)至者可唐(tang)(tang),而(er)(er)天下之(zhi)(zhi)詩,于(yu)(yu)是非(fei)圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)。然及其久也,人(ren)知為(wei)(wei)圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)而(er)(er)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)知為(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)。豫章黃魯(lu)(lu)直出(chu),又一(yi)變(bian)(bian)而(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)雄(xiong)厚。雄(xiong)厚之(zhi)(zhi)至者尤(you)可唐(tang)(tang),而(er)(er)天下之(zhi)(zhi)詩于(yu)(yu)是非(fei)魯(lu)(lu)直不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)發。然及其久也,人(ren)又知為(wei)(wei)魯(lu)(lu)直而(er)(er)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)知為(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)。非(fei)圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)、魯(lu)(lu)直之(zhi)(zhi)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)使人(ren)為(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)也,安于(yu)(yu)圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)、魯(lu)(lu)直而(er)(er)不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)自(zi)暇為(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)也。邇來百年間,圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)俞(yu)、魯(lu)(lu)直之(zhi)(zhi)學皆厭。永嘉(jia)葉正則倡(chang)“四靈”之(zhi)(zhi)目,一(yi)變(bian)(bian)而(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)清圓。清圓之(zhi)(zhi)至者亦(yi)可唐(tang)(tang),而(er)(er)凡枵中(zhong)捷口(kou)之(zhi)(zhi)徒,皆能托(tuo)于(yu)(yu)“四靈”,而(er)(er)益不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)暇為(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)。唐(tang)(tang)且不(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)暇為(wei)(wei),尚安得古?
戴表元對理學(xue)和科舉制(zhi)度破(po)壞文(wen)(wen)學(xue)藝術的(de)(de)現象,反(fan)復(fu)加(jia)以(yi)揭露和抨擊(ji)。袁桷(jue)《戴先生墓(mu)志(zhi)銘》記載他(ta)“力言后宋百五(wu)十余年理學(xue)興而文(wen)(wen)藝絕”,這一點在他(ta)留下的(de)(de)許多(duo)文(wen)(wen)章(zhang)中仍然可(ke)以(yi)看(kan)到。如《方使君(jun)詩(shi)序》記南(nan)宋末(mo)都城臨安士人的(de)(de)風氣(qi):“當是(shi)時(shi)(shi),諸賢高(gao)談性(xing)命,其次不過(guo)馳騖于(yu)竿牘俳諧、場(chang)屋破(po)碎之(zhi)(zhi)文(wen)(wen),以(yi)隨(sui)時(shi)(shi)悅俗(su),無(wu)有肯以(yi)詩(shi)為事者。”《張仲實詩(shi)序》又言,時(shi)(shi)人“見有橫(heng)眉擁鼻而吟(yin)者,輒(zhe)靳(jin)之(zhi)(zhi)曰:‘是(shi)唐聲也,是(shi)不足為吾學(xue)也。吾學(xue)大出之(zhi)(zhi)可(ke)以(yi)詠歌唐虞,小出之(zhi)(zhi)不失為孔氏之(zhi)(zhi)徒,而何用是(shi)啁(zhou)(zhou)啁(zhou)(zhou)為哉!’”《元史》中說戴表元于(yu)至(zhi)元、大德(de)間,在東南(nan)一帶“以(yi)文(wen)(wen)章(zhang)大家(jia)名重一時(shi)(shi)”,可(ke)見他(ta)在當時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)影響(xiang)。
戴表元(yuan)的(de)散文(wen)清深雅潔(jie),蓄而始(shi)發(fa),四方人士爭相師法,為(wei)至元(yuan)、大(da)(da)德年間東(dong)南文(wen)章(zhang)大(da)(da)家第一人,人稱江南夫子(zi)。宋濂于(yu)元(yuan)人中(zhong)推之獨至。《寒光亭記》、《清峙軒記》、《秋山(shan)記》、《觀(guan)漁(yu)賦(fu)》等亦(yi)均可讀。《貓議(yi)》中(zhong)以貓喻人,有言外意;《觀(guan)漁(yu)賦(fu)》寫捕魚須到大(da)(da)海始(shi)得大(da)(da)魚,溝渠中(zhong)只能捉到一些蝦蛤,發(fa)人深省。