《留侯世家》导读纲要

Reading Outline for “The Hereditary House of Marquis Liu”

张良支使力士谋刺秦始皇的事件,牵累许多无辜的百姓受害,促使张良深刻反省,决定潜下心来研究谋略和兵法。本篇说他研读的是"圯上老父"所赠予的《太公兵法》,从《史记》所载和史公的论述来看,张良其实深受《老子》和《孙子兵法》的影响。虚拟的"圯上老父"以及老父授书的场景,正是他从《老子》书中学到的人臣北面自保之术的应用。张良的天下观经历过从恢复战国时代诸侯分立的局面,转为沿袭秦帝国一统天下的巨大改变。其他如建议吕泽迎回"商山四皓"随伺太子,塑造太子"羽翮已就"的形象,使刘邦放弃更易太子的心意。至于"辟谷""道引""欲从赤松子游",可以从追求永生的宗教信仰和《老》学的角度来理解。

Zhang Liang’s ordering of a warrior to assassinate the First Emperor of Qin led to the death of many innocent commoners.This,in turn,caused Zhang Liang to undergo deep reflection and decide to study strategy and the military arts.This chapter states that he studied The Grand Duke’s Art of War given him by“Old Man on the Bridge.”Yet from what is recorded in Historical Records and from Sima Qian’s discussion,it seems Zhang Liang actually was influenced by the book Daode Jing and by The Art of War.The fictitious“Old Man on the Bridge”and the setting where he received the book are nothing more than an application of self-preservation wisdom for ministers outlined in Daode Jing.Zhang Liang’s views on statecraft drastically changed from wanting to restore the feudal states of the Warring States period to continuing the unified empire achieved by Qin.Other events include his suggestiing Lv Ze to bring back the“Four Sages of Mount Shang”to serve the heir apparent,creating the image of the heir apparent as having already“spread his mighty wings,and causing Liu Bang to give up his desire to appoint a new heir apparent.As for his“dietary restrictions,”“Daoist breathing exercises,”and desire to“join the Master of the Red Pine in immortal sport”-these can be understood from the point of view of religious belief in seeking immortality and from the teachings of Laozi.