成也萧何,败也萧何——吕太后人格论辩

An Argument about the Success and Failure of Queen LV from Her Disposition

机械分析吕太后性格,一面是自私、狭隘、凶残,另一面则是刚毅、能干、智慧,这失于简单化。吕氏性格中占据主导地位的无疑应该是—歹毒。在儒家思想全方位弥漫的中国,具有歹毒残忍性格的人,会为各种社会力量所不容。虽然吕氏的歹毒品性促使她在人生道路上一步步成功,同时也正是这种性格一步步使她走向灭亡。从社会的大视角来说,她的歹毒性格残害了各种层面一些生灵,同时又促进了汉代社会的稳固与发展。向来是非难辨。

It is over simplifying to divide the personality of Queen LV into two parts mechanically stating that she is selfish, narrow minded and cruel on the one hand and strong -willed, capable and full of wisdom on the other hand. In fact cruelty is no doubt her dominant personality. With Confucianism overwhelming in China, people with cruel personalities are disliked by Chinese people from different classes. In fact it is her vicious per- sonality that led to her success step by step but it is also her vicious personality that gradually caused her failure. Viewed from social perspective, the cruelty reflected in her disposition has done harm to both people and other living things in China however it has guaranteed the stability and development of Han Dynasty as well. So as it is said that it is always difficult to judge whether what a person does is right or wrong.