在明代，小說從初期不登大雅之堂到逐漸成為文人公開傳播分享之物，文類地位獲得顯著提升，其背後不僅是一段漫長的觀念轉換過程，同時也是許多有志改良文學現況的文人持續努力之成果。從明代中葉開始，出現不少御史主動將個人私藏之歷朝小說公開分享或襄助刊行，或是以撰寫序跋、主持小說校訂等作為，向世人闡釋小說可增廣見聞，足資博雅的價值功能，以實質行動提升小說文類地位。本文以此現象作為研究核心，透過時代氛圍、傳播方式、傳播動機與具體貢獻等四個面向，深入耙梳相關史料，分析促成御史參與小說傳播之成因。另一方面，本文將以嘉、隆年間周弘祖《古今書刻》作為參照座標，以其所載內容論證御史在明代小說發展史上重要且關鍵的傳播意義，此舉亦能揭示在萬曆年間商業通俗小說興起之前，小說曾經歷一段由官方通向民間的轉換階段，扮演推手的御史，以其特殊的官職屬性，格外具有思辨意義。

In the Ming Dynasty , the emergence of novels as a literary genre has been a long history. This may be viewed as an accomplishment achieved by intellectuals who are devoted in the task of improving the status quo of literary work. Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, various imperial censors tried to elevate the status of novel in the literary field by sharing and printing their private novels of dynasties. They also participated in the task of editing different versions of these novels and wrote prefaces and postscripts for them, asserting that reading novels broadens one’s perspectives while the value of novels was confirmed to be enhancing one’s archaic and liberal arts learning. In other words, imperial censors elevated the literary status of novels through their real actions. This essay analyzes the causes that made the status of novels change from both the external and the internal. It applies Zhou Heung-zu’s An Index of Ancient and Contemporary Books and Stone Tablets (Gu Jin Shu Ke) to argue that imperial censors played an important role regarding the changing status of novels. This essay suggests that prior to the prosperity of popular novels during the Wanli era, Ming novels had undergone a transforming period, where novels were introduced from authority to the folk. Imperial censors who helped the establishment of novels as a specific literary genre, along with their special work and responsibilities, provide a gateway through which further critical researches can be conducted.