蔣介石一瞥：1950年代後期日記中的觀察

A Glimpse of Chiang Kai-shek in the Late 1950s: Observations through His Diaries

1917－1972年的蔣介石日記，目前暫存於美國史丹佛大學胡佛檔案館，到2009年7月為止已經全部開放。本文擬使用1950年代末期的日記，來分析遷臺之後蔣介石的生活習慣、日記對蔣介石本身的用途，以及日記中顯示蔣介石作為臺灣最高領導人所關懷的重點。最後則藉由日記內容所顯示的思惟與行為模式，以及其因應困境的實例，來看蔣介石「屢敗屢戰」的生存之道。筆者認為，若對這位對臺灣發展有深厚影響的人有較深刻的認識，較可能讓歷史回歸歷史，超越前此崇蔣、抑蔣的二分對立，對蔣介石在臺施政的內涵與思惟可以有更貼近他動機的解釋。

Utilizing the newly released Chiang Kai-shek Diaries of the late 1950s, this article analyzes Chiang's living habits and explains how he used the diaries as an outlet for his temper, frustration and anxieties, and also as thinking pads. It then explores the focuses of his attention to understand his major concerns as the supreme leader of Taiwan. From the thinking and decision-making patterns as revealed in the diaries, the article further explains how Chiang survived his continuous failure and remained positive in the seeming impossibility of recovering the Mainland. It is hoped that the analysis and explanation can shed more light on this key figure of Taiwan's postwar development, and go beyond the previous dichotomy between excessive exaltation of Chiang as the national liberator and undue condemnation of him as a heartless dictator. It is my wish that historians can aptly regard him as no more than flesh and blood, and thus interpret his thinking and policies from a perspective in greater resemblance of his original motivation. After all, as an active historical player, he does deserve a say in the history about/around him.