李白的俠客形象

The Image of a Knight-errant in Li Po

「俠客」原是春秋戰國時代，周室既微，社會結構急劇變革情況下崛起的一類特殊人物。「俠」之名稱，最早見於《韓非子•五蠹》篇：「儒以文亂法，俠以武犯禁」。韓非（前280？～前233）顯然視「俠」與「儒」為兩種不同人物；且自法家立場論之，認為「俠」乃是以武力違反法令，擾亂治安者。不過，綜觀歷史上以任俠見稱之士，卻並非皆會武功，亦不一定隨身帶劍。司馬遷（前145？～前85?）《史記》為漢代閭巷布衣之俠立傳，綴其共同精神風貌與行為態度，為任俠者勾勒如下之大概輪廓：其行雖不軌於正義，然其言必信，行必果，己諾必誠，不愛其軀，赴士之阨困，既已存亡生死矣。而不矜其能，羞伐其德，蓋亦有足多者焉。以上任俠者之品質當然非閭巷布衣之俠所專有。戰國四公子（齊孟嘗、楚春申、趙平原、魏信陵）即好義任俠之士，其門下賓客中，亦不乏堪稱俠客者。甚至專諸、豫讓、荊軻等剌客，乃至漢初之功臣名將如張良、陳平，亦嘗以俠義聞名。俠客顯然並不侷限於某一特定之社會階級，上自王公卿相，下至閭巷游民，只要符合重然諾、輕生死、拯人阨困，不矜其能之精神行為，即可譽之為俠客。由於俠客但憑節義為其行動之本，往往不受社會禮法之規範，亦無階級意識之束縛。言行舉止或不拘常調，結客交游則無論貴賤，甚至平交王侯權貴，仍然保持其獨立之人格。因此，俠客或許屬於傳統中國社會裏，可自由選擇結交對象，決定進退去留者。只要義氣相投，一旦結為知己，必要時，可以慷慨就義，赴湯蹈火為其效命。具有如此捨己為人之精神，俠客自然成為諸侯爭霸、群雄逐鹿之際，倍受禮遇，值得爭取利用之對象。即使一介布衣，因其俠行義舉，亦能聲聞天下，甚至留名青史。對於一些出身寒微，混游漁商，而又胸懷大志之士，任俠亦是一種建立功業，博取聲名之途徑。

The purpose of this article is to offer a critical analysis of the meaning and significance of the self-image of a knight-errant as projected in Li Po's (701-762) own writings. Although poems in praise of knight-errants’ daring and chivalrous deeds had long been a literary convention since the Wei-Chin periods (3rd to 4th centuries), in Li Po's writings, there emerged certain new aspects. First, Li Po's praise of knight-errant often goes hand-in-hand with his contempt for Confucian scholars who read books till their hairs turn white but know little about the real world. Li Po's attitude is perhaps closely related to his self-consciousness of being a man from a non-scholar-official family background which was generally regarded unfavorably by Tang society. Second, while other poets look at the knight-errants admiringly from a distance, Li Po often assumes the role himself. He pictures himself as someone who sneers at personal wealth, gives generously and expects no reward in return, hastens to the side of those who are in trouble, is capable of restoring peace, stability, or justice at a time voluntarily as soon as his missions are accomplished. Li Po's continuous when society is in chaos, and willing to withdraw from the world display of such an image is apparently intended to serve as a valuable credential in his attempt to realize his political ambition. Behind the self-image of a knight-errant in Li Po's works, there is a man who prizes himself as a man of political talent, ready to serve the sovereign. In his consciousness of being an outsider to the pretigeous scholar-official class, Li Po tries anxiously to convince the world as well as himself that a hero may emerge from a humble background. When his talents are recognized and put into use, he can always make great achievements and earn eternal fame.