今題為藤井淑編《當世新話》（初編）乃日本明治漢文小說集之一，實為著名漢學家依田學海（1834~1909）自作自評，於明治八年（1875）五月刊行。《當世新話》共收錄異聞瑣事三十三則，其「新」在於題材源自新聞，強調記事之「真實性」與「即時性」，並與日本近代報刊發展之背景，緊密聯繫。是書作者採用「筆記體」形式，承襲中國「稗史」傳統之精神，記錄當代世相，並有所寄寓，足以呈現明治維新以來，部分逡巡於新舊時代、東西文化間的文人姿態。循此，本文首先針對《當世新話》之成書背景，鎖定於明治初期新聞業勃興與漢文小說創作之互動，有所略述。其次，以中國古典小說為參照，歸納、剖析其內容特徵與史傳表現，並試從日本漢文小說發展之脈絡，進一步探究《當世新話》書寫之相關特色與意涵。

Published on May, Meiji 8 (1985), Dangshi Xinhua, compiled by Fujii Shuku and actually written by famous sinologist, Gakkai Yoda (1834-1909), is one of the Japanese Chinese-character novels in Meiji era. As collecting 33 anecdotes, Dangshi xinhua’s creativity can be defined by its relation to the developmental background of modern Japanese newspapers and journals, in which both characteristics of “authenticity” and “instantaneity” are emphasized. Besides, following the tradition of the Chinese “anecdote,” the book makes records, with some hidden messages, of the author’s time, appearing what intellectuals aimed to express among old/new generations and east/west cultures after Meiji restoration. In this regard, this paper focuses on the background of Dangshi Xinhua, arguing the interaction between the prosperity of journalism in early Meiji era and creative writing of Chinese-character novels. This paper, based on an investigations of the significances and historical style of classical Chinese novels, also focuses on, in the context of Japanese Chinese-character novels, the writing features and implications of Dangshi Xinhua.