高拱的执政思想与实践论略

On Gao Gong's Theory and Practice of Ruling

明中叶出现了严重的统治危机,一般人认为,吏治不修、诸边不靖、兵不强、财不充是其主要症结。但高拱认为这些都是表面现象,问题的关键在于官场积弊。为此,高拱提出了纠正八弊的建议,并于任内阁首辅之后付诸实施,在一定程度上祛除了政治、军事、经济方面的某些积弊。但是,在内阁倾轧等激烈的朝廷内斗中,高拱也拉帮结派,贪污腐化,重蹈积弊,留下了深刻的教训。

In the middle period of Ming dynasty, there appeared serious crisis for the ruling class. People held different views on the causes of the situation, but Gao Gong believed that the core reason was the corruption of the officers. Therefore he put forward eight suggestions to correct the accumulated problems and put them into practice after he was appointed chief minister. His reform had some effects, but in the fierce struggle for power he also fell under the prevalent practice of taking bribes and participating in the corruption. The lesson was profound.