《退斋记》与许衡刘因的出处进退——元代儒士境遇心态之一斑

The Situation and Mentality of the Yuan Dynasty Confucian Scholars as Seen in Tui Zhai Ji

许衡和刘因是元朝前期北方两大理学名儒,但二人的关系却有些微妙。刘因有一篇文章《退斋记》,不点名地严厉批评当时政坛上的一位大人物,一些学者猜测其批评对象就是许衡,但也有人不同意这种看法。实际上,《退斋记》确系影射许衡之作。许衡在元初政坛屡出屡退,《退斋记》对他的批评有一定根据;但《退斋记》将许衡的行为指斥为“老氏之术”、“以术欺世”,则是求之过深,责之过苛,反映出刘因对许衡怀有很强的误解和成见。这种误解和成见,与刘因个人的经历、性格、思想有着密切关系,从一个侧面反映出元朝统治下汉族儒士生不逢时的悲剧命运。

Xu Heng and Liu Yin, two leading Confucian scholars in the north in the Yuan dynasty, had a rather subtle relationship. In his essay Tui Zhai Ji, Liu excoriated one of the celebrities in the political arena without mentioning his name. Some researchers hypothesized that Liu was criticizing Xu Heng, although others disagreed. As a matter of fact, it was indeed Xu Heng that Liu was alluding to in the essay. Xu Heng advanced into and retreated from the political arena several times, which provided good grounds for criticism. However, Liu was hypercritical in accusing Xu of “playing tricks” and “cheating the world.” He seemed to have a strong prejudice against Xu which was closely related to his personal experience, character and mentality. It was one facet of a prism that reflected the tragic fate of ethnic Han scholars under Mongol rule.