王维贬官新论

A New Discussion on Wang Wei' s Demotion

王维是盛唐时期声名显赫的大诗人。开元九年,他刚刚步入仕途,就被贬往济州。其中缘由,前人虽有讨论,但基本上都沿用《集异记》中"为伶人舞黄师子,坐出官"的说法。这种解释无疑是含糊的,它无法说明王维与舞"黄狮子"的关系。而从现存史料看,王维与岐王关系紧密,最有可能受其唆使,擅自为岐王舞《黄狮子》。这从事件败露后玄宗低调的处理结果,太乐令刘贶被贬逐等可以印证。这一事件表明在看似稳定的政治环境背后,实际上潜伏着诸王与皇权的矛盾。而对于王维本人来讲,亦可谓人生一大转折。

Wang Wei is a prestigious poet during the flourishing Tang Dynasty. When he just steps into official career in the ninth year of the Kaiyuan reign, he is relegated to Jizhou. Some scholars have discussed the reasons, but they basically follow the statement recorded in Collection of Marvels that he is demoted for performing yellow lion dance. This explanation is obviously ambiguous, because it fails to show the relationship between Wang Wei and the event of yellow lion dance. From the existing historical records, Wang Wei and the prince of Qi have close relations. Therefore, it is to a great extent that Wang Wei is instigated by the prince, performing the yellow lion dance without authorization. This can be proved from the low-key processing results of the emperor of Xuanzong when this event is brought to light, and the demotion of Liu Kuang and his father, and the like. This event indicates that behind a seeming stable political environment, in fact, the latent contradiction lurks between the princes and imperial power or authority. As for Wang Wei himself, the demotion is a major turning point in his life.