論徐階的陽明學淵源及其對靈濟宮講會的推動與維繫

The Origins of Xu Jie's Thought and His Efforts in Realizing the Colloquium on Yangmingism at Lingji Palace

提到陽明後學，以政治家聞名的徐階（少湖、存齋，1503-1583）向來罕受關注。事實上，陽明學在中晚明之所以風靡一時，固然得力於諸多弟子的努力推廣，徐階在朝中的積極作為實亦深具貢獻，因此徐階與陽明學的關係有深入探究的價值與必要。本文主要涉及兩項議題，一是徐階的學術淵源，一是其與著名的靈濟宮講會的關係。就前者而言，本文首先論證聶豹（雙江，1486-1563）與徐階雖然存在師生關係，但常被用以建構二人師生淵源的〈贈宮保大司馬雙江先生聶公謝政西歸序〉有違事實，其與陽明學的淵源其實來自同年歐陽德（南野，1496-1554），黃宗羲（梨洲，1610-1695）《明儒學案》的論斷應予修正。就後者而言，本文細膩地還原了徐階主持靈濟宮講會並非一帆風順的曲折過程，也呈現了他如何透過其權位與朝覲制度推廣講會活動。

Despite being a preeminent official of the Ming dynasty, the role of Xu Jie 徐階 (1503-1583) as a neo-Confucianism scholar is seldom discussed in studies on Yangmingism. Xu notably held a colloquium at Lingji Palace 靈濟宮 in Beijing to candidly propagate the thought of Wang Yangming 王陽明 (1472-1529) and was a pivotal exponent of his enshrinement within a Confucian temple. It is thus undeniable that the status and efficacy of Yangmingism was substantially raised due to his efforts. Concerning these activities, this article discusses two main topics: first, by tracing the origins of Xu's thought, I demonstrate that although they maintained a teacher-student relationship, Xu did not acquire the basis of his thinking, namely the teachings of “innate knowledge” of Yangmingism, from Nie Bao 聶豹 (1486-1563) in Huating, but was instead enlightened by fellow disciple Ouyang De 歐陽德 (1496-1554). Second, I elucidate the complete picture of the Lingji Palace colloquium. Despite arguments to the contrary, its organization was far from smooth, but by relying on his status and utilizing the imperial audience system, Xu was able to maintain the event and realize its success, a process which shows the effects of political intervention on the development and dissemination of Yangmingism during the mid- to late Ming dynasty.