万历三十七年(1609)后大臣拜疏自退现象研究

On the Phenomenon of Ministers’ Asking for Retreat after the 37th Year of Wanli(1609)

古代中国大臣上书请归,乞骸骨,很早有之。但也仅限于是获得皇帝的首肯之后方会离去。此方合率土之滨,莫非王臣的思想。然万历三十七年(1609)以后却出现另类怪象,仅仅是尚书、侍郎、都御史一级别的官员就有七位上疏自退,且不包括地方抚、按在内的地方官。他们中不乏内阁大学士,甚至是一人身兼两部及以上的尚书,他们却又都是上疏或者是拜疏自退,在中国古代历史中极不寻常,可以折射出万历三十七年(1609)以后的官场生态。

Ancient Chinese ministers ask for retreat to let the bones be buried in their homeland,which is originated from the ancient times;however,they can’t leave without the imperatorial permission,which conforms to the thought that the people who live on this land are subjects of a kingdom.In the 37th year of Wanli happened a weird phenomenon,many officials,including seven officials,who are Minister,Assistant Minister,and Censor alike,besides the local officials,ask for retreat.Among them,there is no lack of grand scholars in the cabinet,or even some ministers who hold more than two posts.They all ask for resign or retreat,which is very unusual in ancient history of China,and can reflect the ecology of officialdom after the 37th year of Wanli(1609).