桂萼的君逸臣勞思想

Qui E on “The Idle Prince Supported by Hardworking Ministers”

君逸臣勞是中國政治哲學的重要共法，源遠而流長。南宋以後，雖然最重要的儒者和最重要的儒家政治哲學著作很少提倡此思想，但此思想仍然繼續流傳，本文以明代中葉閣臣桂萼（1478-1531）為主，分析他從1526年至1531年間的奏疏，對明世宗不厭其煩的反覆曉喻君逸臣勞的道理。桂萼是吳與弼（1391-1469）、胡居仁（1434-1484）的再傳門人，他侍奉多事有為的明世宗，從經學、史學、醫學、理學、黃老、韓非等多種角度反覆提倡君逸臣勞思想，希能收歛君上的作為，不僅有利於國，也有利於君主保健。明世宗對桂萼教以君主無為的態度則是當成耳邊風，並對首輔張璁（1475-1539）批評桂萼所進的是詐佞非佞、激上邀直之論。

“The idle prince supported by hardworking ministers” is a universal principle in Chinese political philosophy and a long standing and widely propagated heritage. Although this principle was almost abandoned by most prominent Confucian philosophers and political treatises since the Southern Song dynasty, it still surfaces from time to time. This study focuses on Qui E 桂萼 (1478- 1531), the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, whose memorials in 1526-1531 repeatedly preached this principle to Mingshizong 明世宗 (r. 1521-1567).

Qui E was the grand disciple of Wu Yubi 吳與弼 (1391-1469) and Hu Juren 胡居仁 (1434- 1484). Serving the young and active emperor, he preached the principle of “the idle prince supported by hardworking ministers” from multiple perspectives, including the classics, history, medicine, neo-Confucianism, Huang-Lao school, and “Legalism” (i.e., Fajia). According to Qui E, drastically limiting the emperor’s deliberations and actions would result in enhanced governance and improve the emperor’s health.

Mingshizong usually ignored Qui E’s preachings. Futhermore, he once shared with Zhang Cong 張璁 (1475-1539), Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, his criticism of Qui E’s argument, considering it to be only semi-eloquent and merely an attempt to acquire a reputation of righteousness by offending the emperor.