司马迁作《酷吏列传》为“法治”还是为“吏治”——与《史记三家注·酷吏列传》的一点商榷

Ku Li Lie Zhuan: Is It for “Rule of Law” or “administration of the officials” ——Discuss with Shiji Sanjiazhu

《史记三家注·酷吏列传》于"在彼不在此"一句之后注云"在道德,不在严酷",奠定了后世对酷吏严刑峻法的批评,但是忽略了司马迁为酷吏及循吏这两类官吏作传的目的。太史公以史家之笔直述酷吏的言行,并非为简单揭露吏治的黑暗。结合《循吏列传》以及《太史公自序》可知,太史公所云"在彼不在此"应理解为强调吏治对于政治统治的重要性,而非前人所云道德。

After“it is there not here”it interpreted that“it is in moral not in cruelty”in Ku Li Lie Zhuan of Shiji Sanjiazhu. It laid foundation for the criticism of the harsh punishment of the cruel officials. However, it ignored the purpose of Si Maqian who intended to write biographies for the cruel officials and lofty officials. Si Maqian presented what the cruel officials say and what they do directly which not simply disclosed the darkness of the administration of the officials. It is clear to see that“it is there not here”by him means to stress the importance of the administration of the officials to the political rule but not the morality accepted by the predecessors when combining it with Xun Li Lie Zhuan and Tai Shi Gong Zi Xu.