乾隆〈涇清渭濁紀實〉的知識建構與考證方法

Knowledge Construction and Evidential Methods in the Qianlong Emperor’s“Documentary Record on the Clear Jing River and Turbid Wei River”

御製〈涇清渭濁紀實〉是乾隆皇帝晚年代表性的經學考證作品。本文通過對〈紀實〉所涉知識建構過程的詳細梳理，展現出考證方法與行政技術間的內在關聯。乾隆為辨明《毛詩．邶風．谷風》中記載的涇渭清濁情形，派撫臣親赴兩水交匯處考察，依回奏製成〈紀實〉一文，並繪圖刻石，以為定論。其中所涉實地勘察、定量質測的研究方法，及奏報批文、繪圖貼說的呈現形式，使該作品具有「知識」與「行政」的二重屬性，既體現了乾隆在考證方法上的個人風格，亦揭示出與河工水利等行政技術間的密切聯繫。這為理解宮廷學術、考據思潮與經世實踐三者的關係提供了新的視角。

The“Documentary Record on the Clear Jing River and Turbid Wei River”is a representative work of imperial evidential scholarship from the late Qianlong era. Through a close analysis of its knowledge construction process, this article demonstrates an intrinsic connection between evidential methods and administrative techniques. To resolve a question about the water color of the Jing and Wei rivers, as mentioned in the Book of Odes, the Qianlong emperor dispatched a provincial governor to conduct an on-site investigation at the rivers’convergence. Based on the governor’s memorial, the emperor composed the“Documentary Record”; the river scene was illustrated and an engraving was made, presenting an authoritative conclusion. The on-site investigation, quantitative measuring, memorial layout, and visual presentation in this inquiry rendered the“Documentary Record”a dual instance of“knowledge”and“administration.”This characteristic combination not only reflects the emperor’s personal style in evidential methods, but also reveals a close connection with the administrative methods of hydraulic management. This article thus presents a new perspective on the interplay between court learning, the evidential scholarship movement, and the practice of statecraft.