藍鼎元傳記資料考述──兼論其〈紀水沙連〉之內容與意涵

A Critical Exposition of Lan Ding-Yuan's Biography: An Analysis of the Content and Implications of His Record of Shuishalian

藍鼎元是臺灣史上的重要人物，〈紀水沙連〉更是曾被選入高中國文教科書中的重要臺灣古典散文作品。透過本文論述，以下內容應可獲得充分釐清：福建漳浦藍家屬於畲族而非漢族，藍廷珍為藍鼎元的族兄而非從兄；來臺協助藍廷珍鎮壓朱一貴起義以及提出統治臺灣之種種建議，其實都是站在鞏固滿清帝國政權的立場；藍鼎元在1723年獲得的功名為拔貢而非優貢；蒞任廣東潮州普寧知縣的年份是1727年而非1728年；他在普寧與潮陽知縣任內，確實精明幹練，勇於任事，與其發生衝突的兩位長官可能本身在能力或心態上都有問題；藍鼎元被指控貪贓而下獄一事，應為冤獄；〈紀水沙連〉是融合舊文所成，有傳聞與想像之成分，並且顯露其透過「帝國之眼」以看待臺灣之心態，教科書應清楚交代為宜。

Lan Ding-Yuan is an important figure in Taiwanese history. His work, Record of Shuishalian, has even been chosen as a quintessential Taiwanese classic work of prose in the textbooks for senior high school students. In this exposition, the following points are being clarified and corrected. First, the Lan Family of Zhangpu, Fujian Province, belonged to She nation (a Chinese ethnic group), instead of Han. And Lan Ting-Zhen was Lan Ding-Yuan's distant cousin rather than a close one. That is, they were not the descendants of the same grandfather. Second, the reason for Lan Ding-Yuan's help to suppress the rebellion of Chu Yi-Gui and to propose policies in Taiwan, were merely based on the intention to reinforce the domination of Qing Empire. Third, in 1723, Lan won his fame from selection tribute instead of excellence tribute. Fourth, as a county head magistrate of Puning and Chaoyang, Lan behaved cleverly and bravely. However, the two supervisors, who went against him, probably lacked abilities and planned to defect. Fifth, the accusation against Lan Ding-Yuan of taking bribes should be considered false. Last, Record of Shuishalian is a collection of old works, and partly consists of rumors and imaginations. By a close examination Record of Shuishalian, it could be said that Lan saw Taiwan from “the eyes of the empire,” which is a point that should not be neglected in the textbooks for senior high school students.