再论李林甫与盛唐诗坛

On Li Linfu and the Poetic Circle in the Golden Age of the Tang Dynasty

李林甫是唐玄宗时期的宰相,把持朝政长达二十余年,是中国历史上著名的奸臣,是破坏开元盛世、造成国家衰败局面的首恶分子。他狡诈、凶残,口蜜腹剑,“尤忌文学之士”,有多方面的原因,主因是其为固宠而谋立寿王为太子,结果失败,忠王立为太子,他因此十分忧惧,一直设法废太子,而以张九龄等人为代表的盛唐文士,是他实现这一目标的重要障碍,这也就构成了他与盛唐文学之士矛盾与斗争的主线。李林甫对身居高位的“文学之士”无情打击、痛下杀手,对普通文士则予冷遇;操纵官吏的铨选,为所欲为;表面上有一定“行政才干”,实际上玩弄权术,危害国家政治生态。李林甫的所作所为,对盛唐文坛造成了恶劣的影响,也改变了不少诗人的生活与创作道路。

Li Linfu, prime minister of the Xuanzong period of the Tang dynasty, was in charge of state affairs for two decades and was a notorious culprit in the decline of the state. As a cunning and crude official, Li was particularly hostile to the literati. One important reason was his failed attempt to crown Prince Li Mao, as Prince Li Heng became heir to the throne with the support of the literati. Li Linfu’s scheme to overthrow the crowned Prince Li Heng continuously encountered resistance from the literati represented by Zhang Jiuling. Viewing the literati as his political opponents, Li thus crudely attacked those with high political positions and disregarded those from middle and low ranks. He also controlled the entire system of official election. Despite Li’s so-called administrative ability, his play of power endangered the political ecology of the state. His conduct not only caused serious damage to the poetic circle during the prosperous period of the Tang dynasty, but also changed the life and career of numerous poets.