唐代士人上書向官員自薦、求援的風氣特別興盛。當中,傳達干謁之意的上書既有明確預設的讀者與目的,可供窺探作者在此一語境中所欲傳達的自我形象。本文以韓愈之干謁文為例,可見其一方面傳達其復古、志奇的特異形象,另一方面又傳達其啼饑道窮的困厄形象,由於與其歷來在文與道的崇高地位反差較大,甚至干謁對象在道德上有瑕疵,因而引來後世非議。本文立足於干謁語境,認為兩者之間一揚一抑,更能強化其訴求的急切與合理。另外,韓愈在其他詩文中往往否定或羞慚於干謁,在干謁文中則多半運用王公與布衣之互相需要的道理合理化干謁行為。對照韓愈干謁文與其他作品之間的異同,可以發現其干謁文中的自我形象雖然有所選擇,卻也並非全然向壁虛構,由此更呈現干謁文此類應用文學與作者自我之間關係的複雜性。
In Tang Dynasty, there was the social atmosphere that intellectuals always wrote petitions to recommend themselves or request for help. These favor-seeking petitions were arranged for specific readers and purposes, thus they can be researched for what the self-image authors wanted to express in this context. This study takes Han Yu as an example. He was thought to have an important position in the realm of literature and moral. We can find that on the one hand, he expressed the self-image of associating with classical writing and singularity which he was identified as the pioneer of Ancient Literature Movements; on the other hand, he expressed that of his destitute life and requiring other's help. Because of his high statue in the realm of literature and moral and the immoral people he asked for help, later people sometimes criticized this behavior. Based on the context of favor-seeking, this study points out that pride and depression put together would the effect and rationality of his request. Furthermore, in other writings, he denied or felt ashamed of seeking favor; in his favor-seeking petitions, taking advantage of the principle in which noblemen or high official and the common people needed each other, he rationalized his behavior of favor-seeking. Comparing the differences and similarities in his favor-seeking petitions to other writings, we can discover that although there was intention to choosing what the self-image he wanted to express in his favor-seeking petitions, not totally false too. It offers the complexity of the relation between practical prose and its authors.