周永年家貧,百無嗜(shi)好,獨嗜(shi)書(shu)(shu)。有(you)感于明代曹(cao)學佺之(zhi)論(lun),作(zuo)《儒(ru)藏(zang)(zang)說》。此說一出(chu),羅有(you)高、劉(liu)音為之(zhi)張目,劉(liu)作(zuo)《廣儒(ru)藏(zang)(zang)說》以和(he)之(zhi)。論(lun)者謂清修《四庫全書(shu)(shu)》,分(fen)儲七閣,實受《儒(ru)藏(zang)(zang)說》之(zhi)啟發,永年倡始(shi)之(zhi)功誠不可沒。(詳見王(wang)紹曾、沙嘉(jia)孫著《山(shan)東藏(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)家史(shi)略(lve)》)今(jin)迻錄其文,以供參考。(僅據《山(shan)東藏(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)家史(shi)略(lve)》所(suo)附《儒(ru)藏(zang)(zang)說》輸錄,未校原書(shu)(shu)。)
乾隆三十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)進士(shi),乾隆四(si)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)征(zheng)修《四(si)庫(ku)全(quan)(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》。乾隆四(si)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)出(chu)任貴州鄉試副(fu)考官。四(si)庫(ku)館散,授編修,充(chong)文(wen)淵閣校理(li)。乾隆五十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)乞病歸(gui)里(li),是年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋七月(yue)卒,享(xiang)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)六十(shi)二歲。周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)是我(wo)國十(shi)八(ba)世紀著(zhu)(zhu)名的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)家,人稱(cheng)其(qi)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)“甲于山左”,也是著(zhu)(zhu)名的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)學(xue)者,在(zai)(zai)校勘學(xue)、目錄學(xue)和(he)(he)圖書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館事業上成績卓著(zhu)(zhu),尤其(qi)對(dui)《四(si)庫(ku)全(quan)(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)撰修作(zuo)(zuo)出(chu)了(le)(le)突(tu)出(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻。年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)輕(qing)時代的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)心中(zhong)即(ji)裝著(zhu)(zhu)普天(tian)(tian)(tian)下的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)讀書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)人和(he)(he)利(li)在(zai)(zai)萬世的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)事業,醞釀著(zhu)(zhu)一(yi)件具有(you)(you)歷史意義(yi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大事——力倡(chang)“儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)說(shuo)”以存天(tian)(tian)(tian)下之(zhi)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu),主建“借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)園(yuan)”欲(yu)使一(yi)家之(zhi)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)廣之(zhi)于天(tian)(tian)(tian)下。儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)之(zhi)說(shuo)源于明(ming)末曹學(xue)佺,周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)把它提高到理(li)論層面加以闡述,并作(zuo)(zuo)《儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)說(shuo)》以明(ming)其(qi)意,在(zai)(zai)文(wen)后的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)《儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)條約三則》中(zhong),制(zhi)訂了(le)(le)周到的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)實(shi)施(shi)細則,便(bian)于實(shi)施(shi)。為建儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang),大聲疾呼,且身體力行建起了(le)(le)“借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)園(yuan)”。借書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)園(yuan)是周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)處,更是其(qi)《儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)說(shuo)》理(li)論的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)自我(wo)實(shi)踐,具備(bei)近(jin)現代圖書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)兩大功能——保存文(wen)獻和(he)(he)傳播文(wen)明(ming),是近(jin)代公(gong)共(gong)圖書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)館之(zhi)濫觴。可惜(xi)這只是周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)真的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)夢(meng)想,在(zai)(zai)那個時代,藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)家們的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)宋槧元(yuan)抄往(wang)(wang)往(wang)(wang)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)之(zhi)深(shen)閣,秘不(bu)示人,完成儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)理(li)想,賴周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)個人之(zhi)力是不(bu)行的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。但是,儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)說(shuo)一(yi)出(chu),便(bian)得(de)到士(shi)林諸(zhu)同志的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)響應,而《四(si)庫(ku)全(quan)(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)編纂思(si)想和(he)(he)擇棄原(yuan)則,正是周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)在(zai)(zai)《儒(ru)(ru)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)(zang)說(shuo)》中(zhong)力倡(chang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。因此有(you)(you)人說(shuo)纂修《四(si)庫(ku)全(quan)(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》“倡(chang)導之(zhi)功,歸(gui)諸(zhu)永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)”,是有(you)(you)道理(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。《四(si)庫(ku)全(quan)(quan)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)纂修,周永年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)不(bu)僅有(you)(you)倡(chang)導之(zhi)功,而且為之(zhi)作(zuo)(zuo)出(chu)了(le)(le)巨大的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻。
乾(qian)隆(long)四十(shi)(shi)年(nian)周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)以夙望為(wei)(wei)(wei)大學(xue)士劉(liu)統(tong)勛所(suo)推薦(jian),被征為(wei)(wei)(wei)纂(zuan)修官,特旨改翰林院庶吉士。當時(shi)學(xue)界引以為(wei)(wei)(wei)榮(rong),海內學(xue)人投刺踵門,皆欲納交。四庫館開(kai)設于乾(qian)隆(long)三(san)十(shi)(shi)八年(nian),《四庫全書(shu)》的(de)(de)纂(zuan)修是從《永(yong)樂(le)大典(dian)》的(de)(de)校勘輯佚(yi)工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)開(kai)始的(de)(de),周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)在這件事上(shang)傾注了大量的(de)(de)心血,作(zuo)(zuo)出(chu)了突出(chu)的(de)(de)貢(gong)獻。據章學(xue)誠在《周(zhou)書(shu)昌別傳》中(zhong)(zhong)記載,館臣(chen)們不肯費力(li)搜尋,多(duo)選擇易為(wei)(wei)(wei)功者,就說(shuo)再無(wu)可輯之(zhi)書(shu),可因(yin)為(wei)(wei)(wei)周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)固(gu)執(zhi)以爭(zheng),認為(wei)(wei)(wei)其中(zhong)(zhong)還(huan)有許多(duo)可做的(de)(de)工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo),拿他(ta)無(wu)可奈何的(de)(de)同事只(zhi)好(hao)“盡(jin)舉而(er)委之(zhi)書(shu)昌”,周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)不畏艱(jian)辛,“無(wu)間(jian)風雨寒(han)暑(shu),目(mu)盡(jin)九(jiu)千巨冊,計卷一萬(wan)八千有馀,丹鉛標識,摘抉編(bian)摩(mo)”,輯出(chu)永(yong)新劉(liu)敞兄(xiong)弟《公是》、《公非(fei)》等十(shi)(shi)余家佚(yi)書(shu),皆具有極其重要的(de)(de)價值。此外還(huan)據《永(yong)樂(le)大典(dian)》葺補(bu)殘缺、校讎(chou)錯訛脫倒。在這次中(zhong)(zhong)國歷史上(shang)規模最(zui)(zui)大、成果(guo)最(zui)(zui)豐的(de)(de)一次輯佚(yi)校勘活動中(zhong)(zhong),周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)不計名利(li)只(zhi)是“欲行其平日之(zhi)見,盡(jin)表遺籍(ji)”,他(ta)默默無(wu)聞埋頭苦干的(de)(de)精神(shen)和所(suo)輯宋元遺籍(ji)永(yong)垂史冊!
李(li)慈(ci)銘認(ren)為,《四(si)庫全書》雖紀昀、陸錫熊總(zong)其(qi)成,但是經部(bu)提(ti)要(yao)由(you)(you)戴震主(zhu)筆(bi),史部(bu)提(ti)要(yao)由(you)(you)邵晉涵主(zhu)筆(bi),子部(bu)提(ti)要(yao)由(you)(you)周永年(nian)主(zhu)筆(bi),這種分(fen)工是依據了各(ge)人的學術(shu)專長。
《清史稿(gao)》評價(jia)周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)(nian):“四部(bu)(bu)兵(bing)農天算術數諸家(jia),鉤稽精義,褒(bao)譏悉當,為同館所推重(zhong)。”桂馥(fu)在《周(zhou)先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)傳》中也(ye)說:“先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)于經(jing)史百氏之言(yan),覽括略盡,視其大義,不讎(chou)章句。”凡從《大典(dian)》中輯出(chu)的佚書,誰(shui)輯錄(lu)即(ji)由誰(shui)撰寫(xie)提(ti)(ti)要,考察《武英殿聚(ju)珍版(ban)叢書》還可知,《彭城集(ji)(ji)》、《浮溪(xi)集(ji)(ji)》等(deng)集(ji)(ji)部(bu)(bu)提(ti)(ti)要亦出(chu)于周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)(nian)之手(shou)。另外,據(ju)陳(chen)垣先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)考證(zheng),《四庫提(ti)(ti)要》中釋家(jia)著錄(lu)十三(san)部(bu)(bu),存目十二部(bu)(bu)錯誤極少,亦為周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)(nian)所纂,因周(zhou)永(yong)年(nian)(nian)自年(nian)(nian)輕始即(ji)篤嗜(shi)內(nei)典(dian),對佛家(jia)著作(zuo)頗為精通。
周永年為(wei)時碩儒,文章(zhang)冠(guan)絕一時,但他(ta)眼(yan)光過高(gao),又(you)過分(fen)謙(qian)虛,自謂文拙,不留存稿,故(gu)今(jin)天可見著述極少,致使許多人竟(jing)不知道他(ta)在《四庫全(quan)書》的撰修過程中做過這么(me)多的工作,這是(shi)十分(fen)遺憾(han)的事。古人重(zhong)實,不求虛名,也(ye)給學(xue)術(shu)專(zhuan)家漫天飛,學(xue)術(shu)專(zhuan)著泛濫(lan)成災(zai)的當今(jin)社會一個警示。