桓谭奏议论略

On Huan Tan's Political Comments

桓谭是两汉之际著名学者,任光武帝议郎、给事中等职,其今存《陈时政疏》和《抑谶重赏疏》两篇奏议,为东汉前期奏议之名篇,其文一反西汉后期的纡徐阐缓、典雅凝滞之流俗,为文锋芒毕露、畅所欲言、无所顾忌,又能做到朴质简洁。表现了桓谭刚毅謇谔之性格。

Huan Tan was one of the private consultants of Emperor Guangwu, the founder of the Han Dynasty. He was also a scholar whose two famous political reports, Comments on Current Political Situations, and Argumentation against Prophecy and for Reward are still prevalent today. These two articles are of great literary value in that distinct from most of their contemporaries, which were over-furnished, they were simple enough while powerfully expressive, which conveys exactly their writer's personality of indignity and frankness.