民国学者对明代锦衣卫史学形象的阐释与书写

Interpretation and Description of the Historical Images of Imperial Guards in the Ming Dynasty by Scholars in the Republic of China

民国时期是中国学术从传统向近代急速转型的重要时期。在关于明代锦衣卫的研究上,民国时期的史学研究呈现了从传统叙事向近代分析、从赞颂帝制向反对帝制的转型过程。明代史籍对锦衣卫的记载,虽然应用了编年、典制、史志和笔记体的不同体裁,但叙事的性质则完全相同,官史多从正面予以陈述。民国对锦衣卫的研究,形式上出现了研究论文和章节体专著、讲义;内容上以理论分析为导向、直击锦衣卫"特务机构"的性质以及其为专制独裁服务的实质。当然,民国学者批判锦衣卫时,似乎亦取径于明代野史对锦衣卫的负面评价,说明在中国这样的文明古国,史学的近代转型,不仅受到来自西方分析史学的影响,同时也受惠于中国传统史学的某种滋养。

During the period of the Republic of China,Chinese learning rapidly transformed from traditional style to modern style,and the historical studies of Imperial Guards in Ming Dynasty displayed characteristics of transformation from traditional narration to modern analyses and from praising the monarchy to struggling against monarchy.Although the historical records of Imperial Guards in history of Ming Dynasty are in different genres,namely,chronology,decrees and regulations,historical records and note-style,the essence of narration is identical.And the official history records Imperial Guards from a positive perspective.During the period of the Republic of China,scholars researched on Imperial Guards in papers,monographs and lecture notes,and the research brings insight into the substance of Imperial Guards as a secret service institution and serving autocracy.Certainly,it seems that the scholars in this period made negative judgement about Imperial Guards with unofficial history of Ming Dynasty,which reveals that modern Chinese historiography is influenced not only by Western analytical history,but also by Chinese traditional history.