The article deals with a phenomenon called metafiction. This phenomenon, thoroughly studied by Western European and American philologists, is now considered basing on Chinese literature - from the first publications in the late 1980s to modern monographs; the paper gives a brief introduction into scientific articles and monographs of Chinese and Russian scholars who played a key role in the study of metafiction. The author of the article identifies its main features and summarizes the existing concepts of Chinese literary scholars. Particular attention is paid to the «Chinese characteristics» of metafiction.
本文讨论一种称为元小说的现象。 西欧和美国语言学家对此现象进行彻底的研究，如今，这种现象被认为是基于中国文学-从1980年代后期的第一批出版物到现代的专着。 本文简要介绍了在元小说研究中发挥关键作用的中俄学者的科学论文和专着。 本文作者指出其主要特征，并总结中国文学学者的现有观念。 特别要注意元小说的“中国特色”。