宋代文人之伍子胥人物品評小考

Abstract

The stories of Wu Zixu could originate from the Pre-Qin period and be summarized as “Loyal Gentleman”, “Filial Piety” and “Revenge”. Since “Loyal Gentleman” and “Revenge” are two contrast words, Wu Zixu has always been a debatable figure in the views of the men of letters in later ages. With the proses in Song Dynasty as the major texts, this thesis has referred to both Confucian classics and historical materials, to probe into the characters, reasons and meaning of commenting on Wu Zixu. By taking a panoramic view of the overall history of commenting on Wu Zixu, it’s discovered that Song Dynasty was the turning period. At the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty, the overall comments on Wu Zixu had relied on the fork beliefs, the scholars had worshiped Wu Zixu for the actual sacrifice demand, indoctrination and benediction. Such a surficial acceptance had been consistent with the comments on Wu Zixu in Tang Dynasty and lasted until the end of Song Dynasty. Although the rational criticism had shown up in the Southern Song Dynasty, worshiping and depreciation of Wu Zixu had existed side by side. With the interpretations of the Confucian classics, the scholars in the Southern Song Dynasty had deepened the exploration in the academic comment on Wu Zixu. The assessment range had been gradually expanded, from “loyal gentleman” to “revenge” and “death”. As the assessment goes deeper, specific arguments and logics have been proposed, the reasonable solution for self-adaptation and dream realization has been presented. The scholars in the Southern Song Dynasty had ushered in the history of comment on Wu Zixu and displayed a sense of distinct critical consciousness, forming up a certain scale and trend of comment on Wu Ziwu for the people in later ages.