理论创新与实战局限:明代车战的历史考察

On the Chariot Warfare of the Ming Dynasty

从明正统年间开始,明朝统治集团中屡屡有人倡议以车战抵御蒙古骑兵的入侵。在这一背景下,车战理论逐渐形成。同时,在明朝北部边防中,车战御敌的战例也频频出现,其中不乏成功者。但从整个边防角度来说,车战作用又十分有限,其理论意义远远大于实践价值。究其根本原因在于,明朝统治集团对车战未能形成共识,同时御敌于境外的战略指导思想以及战车设计的缺陷也导致了车战未能扮演更为重要的角色。

The resistance against Mongolian cavalry＇s aggression by the chariot warfare had frequently been advocated ever since the reign of Emperor Yingzong in the Ming Dynasty. Therefore ,the theory of chariot warfare gradually took shape. Besides,in the defence of the northern frontier, the chariot battles occurred, and there was no lack of successful examples. However, from the perspective of whole frontier defence ,the chariot warfare had many limitations and its theoretical significance rose above its practical value. The limitations resulted primely from the uncormnon understanding of the chariot warfare in the ruling circle,and also from the deficiencies in the strategic thinking of checking invading troops outside the borders and the chariot＇s design.