戴表元7歲能文(wen),詩(shi)文(wen)多奇(qi)語。早年(nian)(nian)入太學,師(shi)事(shi)南(nan)(nan)(nan)宋禮部尚書王應麟和舒(shu)岳祥(xiang)等(deng)文(wen)學大師(shi)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)宋咸淳七年(nian)(nian)(1271)中進士,授(shou)(shou)(shou)迪功(gong)郎,次(ci)年(nian)(nian)授(shou)(shou)(shou)授(shou)(shou)(shou)建康(kang)府(今南(nan)(nan)(nan)京)教(jiao)(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),德(de)(de)祐元年(nian)(nian)(1275)遷(qian)臨安教(jiao)(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),行戶部掌故,均不(bu)就,以兵亂(luan)歸剡。歸里后(hou)讀(du)(du)經史,作詩(shi)文(wen)。次(ci)年(nian)(nian)三月,元兵南(nan)(nan)(nan)下(xia),避難(nan)天(tian)臺、鄞縣(xian)(xian)。祥(xiang)興二年(nian)(nian)(1279)復(fu)返里。家素貧,戰亂(luan)毀(hui)劫后(hou),生活益艱,輾轉鄞縣(xian)(xian)、杭州等(deng)地,授(shou)(shou)(shou)徒賣(mai)文(wen)為生,門生中以袁桷最負盛名。元至(zhi)元二十九年(nian)(nian)|(1292)聘任(ren)奉(feng)化養正堂師(shi),與(yu)舒(shu)津、任(ren)士林等(deng)合(he)修《奉(feng)化縣(xian)(xian)志》;元大德(de)(de)八年(nian)(nian)(1304)61歲時,被人推薦為信(xin)州(今江西上饒(rao))教(jiao)(jiao)授(shou)(shou)(shou),再調婺州,因病辭(ci)職(zhi)。十年(nian)(nian)歸里,后(hou)薦為修撰、博士,皆不(bu)赴,讀(du)(du)書吟詩(shi)以終(zhong)。
戴表元著有《剡(yan)源集》、《剡(yan)源佚(yi)文(wen)》、《剡(yan)源佚(yi)詩》等。作(zuo)品今存(cun)《剡(yan)源文(wen)集》30卷,佚(yi)詩6卷,佚(yi)文(wen)2卷。
戴(dai)表(biao)元(yuan)學(xue)識淵博(bo),力主改革宋(song)末(mo)學(xue)者萎蔽風(feng)氣,以文(wen)章(zhang)大家名(ming)重(zhong)東(dong)南(nan)。詩(shi)文(wen)清(qing)新(xin)(xin)雅(ya)潔,多傷時憫亂,同情(qing)民(min)間疾苦,詠家鄉名(ming)山(shan)秀(xiu)水。戴(dai)表(biao)元(yuan)的(de)一(yi)些詩(shi)流露著(zhu)同情(qing)民(min)生(sheng)疾苦的(de)感(gan)(gan)情(qing),例如《采藤行(xing)》描(miao)寫商人(ren)和手(shou)工業(ye)者,生(sheng)活較好,而農民(min)卻承(cheng)擔著(zhu)官府(fu)的(de)沉(chen)重(zhong)賦(fu)稅,結果是“南(nan)村種麥(mai)空(kong)早熟,逐日扃門忍饑哭。”他另有些作(zuo)品寓有對趙宋(song)王(wang)朝的(de)故國(guo)之思,如《感(gan)(gan)舊歌(ge)者》,明代(dai)田汝成(cheng)《西(xi)湖(hu)游覽志馀》稱“戴(dai)帥(shuai)初湖(hu)上贈歌(ge)者一(yi)絕,有故國(guo)之思焉。”此(ci)外如《通謝張(zhang)可與參政書》、《二歌(ge)者傳》、《己卯歲初葺剡(yan)居》、《讀書有感(gan)(gan)》等,也屬此(ci)類。律詩(shi)雅(ya)秀(xiu),力變宋(song)詩(shi)積(ji)習,靜細清(qing)新(xin)(xin),風(feng)致近(jin)晚唐。清(qing)顧嗣立(li)《元(yuan)詩(shi)選》評道:“剡(yan)源詩(shi)律雅(ya)秀(xiu),力變宋(song)季余習。”其詩(shi)文(wen)常被(bei)用作(zuo)名(ming)言警句。
在元初(chu)詩(shi)人(ren)(ren)中,戴表元是鼓吹(chui)“唐(tang)風”、力矯宋詩(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)弊的有(you)力人(ren)(ren)物,他在《洪潛(qian)甫詩(shi)序》云(yun):始時汴梁(liang)諸(zhu)公言(yan)詩(shi),絕無唐(tang)風,其(qi)(qi)博(bo)贍者(zhe)謂(wei)(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)義山,豁達(da)者(zhe)謂(wei)(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)樂天(tian)(tian)而(er)(er)(er)已矣。宣城梅(mei)圣(sheng)俞出,一變而(er)(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)沖(chong)淡(dan)。沖(chong)淡(dan)之(zhi)(zhi)至(zhi)者(zhe)可唐(tang),而(er)(er)(er)天(tian)(tian)下(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)詩(shi),于(yu)是非(fei)圣(sheng)俞不(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)。然(ran)及其(qi)(qi)久(jiu)也(ye),人(ren)(ren)知(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)圣(sheng)俞而(er)(er)(er)不(bu)知(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)。豫章黃(huang)魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)出,又(you)一變而(er)(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)雄厚。雄厚之(zhi)(zhi)至(zhi)者(zhe)尤可唐(tang),而(er)(er)(er)天(tian)(tian)下(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)詩(shi)于(yu)是非(fei)魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)不(bu)發。然(ran)及其(qi)(qi)久(jiu)也(ye),人(ren)(ren)又(you)知(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)而(er)(er)(er)不(bu)知(zhi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)。非(fei)圣(sheng)俞、魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)不(bu)使人(ren)(ren)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)也(ye),安于(yu)圣(sheng)俞、魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)而(er)(er)(er)不(bu)自暇(xia)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)也(ye)。邇來(lai)百年(nian)間,圣(sheng)俞、魯(lu)(lu)直(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)學皆(jie)厭。永嘉葉正則倡(chang)“四(si)靈”之(zhi)(zhi)目,一變而(er)(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)清圓。清圓之(zhi)(zhi)至(zhi)者(zhe)亦可唐(tang),而(er)(er)(er)凡枵(xiao)中捷(jie)口之(zhi)(zhi)徒,皆(jie)能(neng)托于(yu)“四(si)靈”,而(er)(er)(er)益不(bu)暇(xia)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)。唐(tang)且不(bu)暇(xia)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei),尚安得古?
戴(dai)表(biao)元對理(li)學(xue)(xue)和科舉制度破(po)壞文學(xue)(xue)藝術的現象(xiang),反復(fu)加(jia)以(yi)(yi)揭露和抨擊。袁(yuan)桷《戴(dai)先生墓志(zhi)銘》記載(zai)他“力言(yan)后宋百五十余年理(li)學(xue)(xue)興而(er)文藝絕(jue)”,這一點(dian)在他留下的許多(duo)文章(zhang)中仍(reng)然可以(yi)(yi)看到。如《方使君詩(shi)(shi)序》記南宋末都城臨安士人(ren)的風(feng)氣:“當是時,諸賢高談(tan)性命(ming),其次不(bu)過馳(chi)騖于(yu)竿牘(du)俳諧(xie)、場(chang)屋破(po)碎之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)文,以(yi)(yi)隨時悅俗,無有肯以(yi)(yi)詩(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)事(shi)者(zhe)。”《張仲(zhong)實詩(shi)(shi)序》又言(yan),時人(ren)“見有橫眉擁鼻(bi)而(er)吟者(zhe),輒靳之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)曰:‘是唐(tang)聲也,是不(bu)足為(wei)(wei)吾(wu)學(xue)(xue)也。吾(wu)學(xue)(xue)大(da)出(chu)(chu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)可以(yi)(yi)詠歌唐(tang)虞,小出(chu)(chu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)不(bu)失為(wei)(wei)孔氏之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)徒,而(er)何用是啁啁為(wei)(wei)哉!’”《元史》中說(shuo)戴(dai)表(biao)元于(yu)至元、大(da)德間,在東南一帶(dai)“以(yi)(yi)文章(zhang)大(da)家名(ming)重一時”,可見他在當時的影(ying)響。
戴表元(yuan)的散文(wen)清深(shen)雅潔,蓄而始發(fa),四方人(ren)士爭相師(shi)法,為至元(yuan)、大(da)德年間(jian)東南(nan)文(wen)章大(da)家第一人(ren),人(ren)稱江(jiang)南(nan)夫子。宋濂于元(yuan)人(ren)中推之獨至。《寒光亭記(ji)》、《清峙軒記(ji)》、《秋山記(ji)》、《觀漁(yu)(yu)賦》等(deng)亦均可讀。《貓(mao)議》中以貓(mao)喻人(ren),有(you)言(yan)外意;《觀漁(yu)(yu)賦》寫(xie)捕魚(yu)須到大(da)海(hai)始得大(da)魚(yu),溝渠中只能(neng)捉到一些蝦蛤,發(fa)人(ren)深(shen)省(sheng)。