防范第二个张居正的出现:万历朝的政治特点——“明亡于万历”新解

Preventing the Emergence of A Second Zhang Juzheng:The Political Characteristic of the Wanli Reign:A New Explanation of“The Ming Dynasty Fell in Wanli Reign”

理性认识万历政治的特点,是理解晚明的锁钥。而要认清万历朝的政治特点,首要的问题是能否客观地审视张居正。人们简单地将张居正担任首辅的万历前十年与其后的万历政治截然分开的做法,是不可能认清张居正的历史影响的。人们在颂扬张居正之功时,还必须客观地看到其对万历政治的负面影响。其中严防第二个张居正式人物的出现,是最显著的教训。而在张居正死后,神宗自觉或不自觉地延续着张居正的这一做法,并予以公开化和扩大化,在持续的反张运动中切实做到了杜绝第二个张居正的出现,但明朝因此付出了极大的政治代价,书写了其独有的亡国模式。只有以这种视角来观察万历的政治特点和演变路径,才能真正理解“明亡于万历”的深刻含义。

Rational understanding of Wanli(万历)politics is the key to understand the late Ming Dynasty.To understand reasoningly the characteristics of Wanli politics,the first question is whether we can objectively examine Zhang Juzheng(张居正).It is impossible for people to recognize the historical influence of Zhang Juzheng by simply separating the first ten years of politics of Wanli when Zhang Juzheng was the prime minister of the cabinet and the politics afterwards.While praising Zhang Juzheng s achievements,it is indispensable to see his negative influence on Wanli politics.The most obvious lesson is to strictly prevent the emergence of a second powerful prime minister like Zhang Juzheng.After Zhang Juzheng passed away,the Emperor Wanli continued this practice consciously or unconsciously.In the ongoing campaign against Zhang Juzheng,the Emperor Wanli achieved his purpose to prevent the emergence of a second Zhang Juzheng.However,the Ming Dynasty paid a heavy price on its political institution for this,resulting in its unique collapse pattern.Only by observing the political characteristics and evolution path of Wanli from this perspective,can we truly understand the profound meaning of“The Ming Dynasty fell in Wanli reign”.