浅析《汉书·宣帝纪》中的宣帝形象.docx

浅析《汉书·宣帝纪》中的宣帝形象
摘要班固在《宣帝纪》中塑造了一个从“巫蛊之祸”中幸存,即位后尊孝武,求贤才,惜百姓,陟罚臧否,崇尚儒法,善征伐的高大的宣帝形象。全文均是正面叙述,几无负面记载。其主要原因,当是班氏认为宣帝开创中兴局面,居功至伟,执政后期虽有过失,但两相比较功远大于过,因而择其要而记。或许这还与班固因“私作国史”而被捕入狱的经历和出狱后明哲自保的心态有关。
关键词《汉书・宣帝纪》汉宣帝形象
Abstract Ban Gu made a character of Emperor Xuan who survive from the case of witchcraft, respect Emperor Wu, yearn for paragons of virtue and talent, cherish the people, punish evil-doers and encourage people to do good, uphold Confucianism and Legalism and good at conquest after he access to the throne in "Han Xuandi Ji". At the same time, this paper think that though Emperor Xuan made some mistake in the last period of his govern, he made great achievements,and that is the reason why there are not negative character of Emperor Xuan in "Han Xuandi Ji". Perhaps it is also because of the fact that Ban Gu was arrested in prison for his "private national history".
Keywords "Han Xuandi Ji"; Emperor Xuan of Han; character
对于汉宣帝的评价历来观点各异。有认为他“持刑太深”; 重用外戚、宦官; “刻薄寡恩、拒谏饰非”的,也有认为是“中兴令主”、“贤君”的。本文从《汉书・宣帝纪》入手,对汉宣帝的形象作一分析评价。
1 幼遭巫蛊
据《汉书・宣帝纪》,宣帝幼年遭遇了巫蛊之祸:“生数月,遭巫蛊事,太子、良娣、皇孙、王夫人皆遇害。”①尚在襁褓中就被送入郡邸狱,由廷尉监邴吉照顾。大赦后,被送到祖母史良娣家,后又为掖庭养视。掖庭令张贺念及与戾太子旧情而奉养宣帝,用自己的钱供他读书,还将许广汉的女儿嫁给他。年轻时的宣帝高材好学,喜周游,故懂得闾里奸邪、吏治得失。他在即位前一路有贵人相助,实乃不幸中的万幸。
《宣帝纪》还记叙了宣帝幼年时的异禀:“身足下有毛,卧居数有光耀。每买饼,所从买家辄大雠。”②宣帝尚在狱中就“望气者言长安狱中有天子气”,③预示他将来与众不同的人生。
2 尊孝武
汉武帝兴巫蛊之事,宣帝幼年深受巫蛊之害,但宣帝对武帝的评价却十分耐人寻味。《宣帝纪》中有文:
夏五月,诏曰:“朕以眇身奉承祖宗,夙夜惟