審察常度識才德──從《太平御覽˙知人》論古代「觀人術」

On the Observation of One's Talent and Virtue Based on One's Behaviors— Ancient Chinese 'Ways of Observing People' in the 'Knowing People' Chapter of Taiping Yulan

泛覽歷代古籍，頗載知人識鑒之事，察其「知人」之方，多出「觀人」、「相人」二術。限於篇幅，本文先行針對「觀人」之術進行探究，期望透過《太平御覽˙知人篇》之分析，子史典集相關論述之爬梳，探索古代知人事例之「評定內容」、「觀人目的」以及「觀人方法」，進而推究觀人術之「原理」。結果如下：「評定內容」方面，以評定「才具流業」，審察「德性風度」，預知「得失成敗」為要，則其「知才識德」傾向相當明顯。觀人目的方面，則往往與家國公領域之「政治任才」、「家族繼業」密切相關。觀人方法上，則以「觀察常度」為主，「驟觀暫覩」為輔，間有援用「相法」情形；亦有主動實施「才性試驗」以測其職能情操，或針對「人物有變」而採行長期觀察方法者。尋繹「觀人術」之原理，則涉及「陰陽五行說」、「才性天賦論」、「誠中形外，由形觀質」、「反向思維」、以及「類比原則」諸理。

Many accounts of observing people can be found in ancient Chinese historical texts. The 'Knowing People' Chapter of Taiping Yulan divided this art of knowing people into two general categories: 'observing people' and 'physiognomy.' In this paper, I would focus on 'observing people'. My examination of these accounts would be made on four aspects: the content of prediction, the purpose of knowing people, the method of knowing people, and the theoretical foundation. Based on my analysis of the records on 'observing people,' I draw up certain conclusions. First, the predictions made based on the methods of 'observing people' focuses on the narration about one's talents and virtue. Second, the motivation that prompt one to 'observe people is usually for recruiting officials for the government. Third, the method of 'observing people' is the observation of people's behaviors. Therefore, the bservation of people takes a much longer time than physiognomy due to the consideration of possible implications when one is put on an office.