盖棺自论定:宋代自撰墓志铭探析

A Study of Self-written Epitaphs in the Song Dynasty

据存世资料统计,宋代自撰墓志铭共有33方,现存计有18方。自撰墓志铭虽非宋代墓志铭撰写的主流,但在两宋时期不绝如缕。自撰墓志者有的曾身居高位,有的一直宦海低迷、困顿下僚,还有的终生居于草野。这些墓志铭,有的形式自由、内容简单,也有的中规中矩,与他撰墓志无异。撰者之所以直面自己的生命,或借自撰墓志表达一种超脱生死的豁达境界,或是理想与现实反差下的牢骚之语,抑或是特殊的政治环境下墓主的自我释放,乃至表达易代之后"遗民"的心态等,呈现出多样化的面貌。此类文献的历史书写方式颇耐人寻味,值得深究。

Historical records indicate that there are 33 self-written epitaphs in the Song Dynasty, including 18 survi- ving ones. Although they were not the norm in the Song Dynasty, it existed all the time. People wrote an epitaph for them- selves included high-ranking officials, lowly bureaucrats, and commoners. The varied reasons why they wrote an epitaph for themselves included a desire to take stock of their life experience, a desire to rise above the matters of life or death, a desire to vent frustration over the discrepancy between ideals and reality, a desire to express their emotions in a particular political environment, and a desire to express longing for the previous dynasty. This interesting form of historical writing has both explicit manifestations and implicit connotations worth further study.