佞臣如何左右皇權：以北宋「癭相」王欽若為例

This is part of a larger study exploring the relationship between the imperial power and the prime ministers' power in the Song dynasty. But unlike my study of twenty years ago which took a telescopic approach, this article is microscopic, exploring the actual operation of imperial power by focusing on the activities of the prime ministers. I believe that this approach is more convincing and can get closer to the historical truth than institutional surveys. Although my view of imperial power reflects not only the politics of the Song dynasty, but also the politics of Chinese history over a long period, this article is focused on the Zhenzong 真宗 reign. Bureaucratic politics in the Northern Song was characterized by the domination of the scholar-bureaucrats. It was formed in the Zhenzong period. Zhenzong was the first emperor who succeeded to the throne in a normal way in the Song dynasty. Therefore, the political pattern of Zhenzong's reign and the relationship between the emperor and the ministers in his time provided a model for the descendants. I take Li Hang 李沆, Wang Dan 王旦, Kou Zhun 寇準, Wang Qinruo 王欽若 and Ding Wei 丁謂 as five cases of my study and I have closely investigated their career. They were all prime ministers in Zhenzong's court, and their activities covered almost all aspects of the history I am concerned about. The imperial power and the prime ministerial power were both parts of the dynastic power system. The scholar-bureaucrat politics in the Song dynasty was rooted in the monarchical regime, so it was closely connected with the imperial power. Generally speaking, in traditional China, especially after Song dynasty, prime ministers held the authority, but they dealt with political issues in coordination with the emperors, not standing in an opposite position against them. In the past, emperors always took the prime ministers as their friends and teachers. So to Zhenzong, what kind of friend and teacher was his five prime ministers? It appears that Li Hang was a friend he held in esteem; Wang Tan, a friend he held for loyalty; Kou Zhun, a friend who would give forthright admonition; Wang Qinruo, a friend who was crafty and fawning; and Ding Wei, a friend who was high-handed. These five people, in my opinion, cover the basic categories of prime ministers in traditional Chinese society. This article on Wang Qinruo is one of the five case studies. Besides investigating Wang Qinruo's method of influencing the imperial power, this study also strives to expose the effects of ＂evil＂ in the process of history through exposing a negative historical figure who has been much neglected by scholars.

並列關鍵字

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