矛盾、空间与解脱:论明中期吴中文人的仕隐困境

Contradiction,Space and Extrication:the Literati's Dilemma between Officialdom and Reclusion inWuzhong in the Mid-Ming Dynasty

明中期吴中文人在仕与隐、进与退之间的反复踟蹰、徘徊,构成了他们主要的人生困境。表现为他们对科举既执着又批判、既不放弃又不力务,对仕途既不断求取而又浅尝辄止。其矛盾心态之成因,主要在于文化观念等内部因素。关注个体生命、崇尚审美、感性而疏离政治的吴中地域文化性格,以批判科举时文为基点的古文辞好尚,成为了他们进取的阻力。吴中乡居文人之间深挚且具有包容性的交游圈,以及吴中地域文化自守观念,又为他们提供了退守的空间。但最终,在科举时风与家族责任的巨大压力下,近乎仪式的入仕经历仍是摆脱这种仕隐困境的必要途径。

The Literati in Wuzhong in the mid-Ming Dynasty wavered between officialdom and reclusion,which became their major life predicament.They were keen to take part in the Imperial Examination to be an official,and meanwhile often criticized the examination system and retired soon after they took office.Their contradictory mentality derived from their cultural concepts,the regional culture characterized by their attending individual life,advocating aesthetics and sensibility and alienating politics,and the advocacy of ancient classical works by criticizing the writing style in the Examination which hindered their enterprising spirit.In the end,under the huge pressure of the Imperial Examination trend and the family responsibility,their ceremonial experience of taking office was necessary to shake off their predicament between the choice of being an official and a recluse.