从“吕后问相”看汉高帝至吕后时期政治

An Insight into the Political Dynamics from the“Dialogue between Liu Bang and Empress Dowager LüZhi Regarding the Selection of Prime Minister”—On the Politics from Emperor Gao of Han Dynasty to Empress Lv Dynasty

“吕后问相”是发生于汉高帝刘邦晚年的重要事件。在与吕后的对话中,刘邦确定了其身后丞相、太尉的人选。无论从史书的记载还是从历史背景来看,该事件应是史实。“吕后问相”事件反映了汉初以功臣担任丞相的惯例和宽简治国的政治基调,有利于理解汉初高帝至吕后时期政治制度与权力结构的变动。将“吕后问相”事件与“王诸吕”“诛诸吕”等事件相联系,能够看出汉初功臣集团与吕氏外戚集团之间的关系呈现逐步恶化的趋势,最终导致在吕后去世之后发生了功臣集团诛杀吕氏外戚集团的“诛诸吕”事件。

The“dialogue regarding the selection of prime minister”between Liu Bang(also known as Emperor Gaozu),the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty,and Empress Dowager LüZhi,is a significant historical episode taking place in the later years of Emperor Gaozu’s reign.In the dialogue with his wife Empress Dowager Lü,Liu Bang appointed candidates for the position of prime minister and key officials responsible for military affairs.According to historical records and an overview of the historical context,this event should be deemed factual.The dialogue between Liu Bang and Empress Dowager LüZhi facilitates comprehension of the alterations in the political system and power dynamics that characterized the early Han court from Emperor Gaozu to Empress Dowager Lü’s reign,reflecting the early Han practice of appointing meritorious officials(功臣)as prime ministers and the political ethos of governing with leniency and simplicity.By contextualizing the dialogue between Liu Bang and Empress Dowager LüZhi alongside events such as“favoritism towards the Lüclan”(王诸吕)and subsequent“conspiratorial attempts to depose and execute them”(诛诸吕),a gradual deterioration in the relationship between the faction of meritorious officials and the Lüclan becomes evident.This culmination led to the historical incident where the meritorious officials orchestrated the extermination of the Lüclan following Empress Dowager Lü’s demise.