从《贞观政要》的广泛流传看史学批评的社会意义

Social Significance of Historical Criticism From the Zhenguanzhengyao

《贞观政要》是一部集历史叙事与历史研究为一体的史学著作,其书不同于《太宗实录》之处,不只是它的化繁为简,还在于它融入了作者对贞观政治的认识,寄寓了当时朝野士庶的致治追求,并提出了一些带有普遍性的治国理政的问题。也正因为如此,《贞观政要》得到后世求治的君臣和学人的普遍赞誉,进而使它得到持久而广泛的流传。从中晚唐到清末的千余年间,《贞观政要》拥有非一般史书可比的稳定的读者群体,尤以君主和士人为主。值得重视的是,关于《贞观政要》的评论,不仅引发了仿效其立意及体例的政治史著述的不断面世,诸如《三朝宝训》《三朝圣政录》《洪武圣政记》等,更有传递古代政治文化之功,各代君主和文臣潜心研读,传扬唐太宗嘉言善行、良法美政的同时,往往给予现实政治以启发和指导,一定程度上影响了后世的政治观念和施政实践。

Zhenguanzhengyao is a historical work with both historical narration and histori- cal studies. Compared with Taizong shilu, this book not only simplified the contents, but also contains author＇s views on politics in Zhenguan Period of the Tang Dynasty, political pursuits and hopes of scholars and common people both in court and countryside. Based on those differ- ences, the book puts forward general problems of administrating a country. That＇s why Zhenguanzhengyao got the praise among Emperors, ministers and scholars of later generations and has long been widespread and highly welcomed. During the 1000 years from the Middle and Late Tang Dynasty to the Late Qing Dynasty, Zhenguanzhengyao won stable readers, especially among rulers and scholars. It is quite notable that comments on Zhenguanzhengyao not only constantly prompted the coming out of politic history books of similar conception and stylistic rules, such as Sanchao baoxun, Sanchao shengzhenglu, Hongwu shengzhengji, and so on, but also delivered ancient political culture. When rulers and ministers absorbed themselves in praising Taizong＇s deeds, words and governance, they gain inspirations from the book to current politics, which to some extent affected the political idea and administration practice of the later people.