力圖推翻逆案：論阮大鋮以詩塑造的自我形象

Striving to Reverse His Traitorous Reputation: On Ruan Dacheng’s Self-Image Constructed through Poetry

明清之際的著名奸臣阮大鋮，乃中國傳統詩學「詩如其人」理念的鮮明反例。歷來研究成果多集中於其詩是否真實反映其人，或排除其人而就詩論詩。本文則將其人、其詩置於時代、作者與讀者之三角空間，析論其面向文士群體、企圖推翻逆案的形象塑造，包括當中展現的不同面目、相應的修辭策略，以及隱然流露的自我表現動機。從中可見：一、面對閹黨指控，他有意表現自己超越黨爭、無辜受害，或出或處，全依朝政清濁而定；二、背負逆案惡名後，他遁入山水田園，呈現自己為好靜厭囂的逸士，卻也流露區隔的自覺與知音的期待；三、相應於當時內憂外患帶來的軍事人才需求，他大力發揮自己協助平定桐城民亂的功勞，對全國局勢則感嘆自己無能作為，實則批判黨爭無益國事，隱然營造自己具備淑世之才。看似不同的面目，能連貫出兼具屈騷與陶公之情志的自我敘事，呈現有別於時人「誤解」、足以打動讀者的理想形象。藉此個案研究，除了能更深切進入阮大鋮詩之自我形象塑造與當時環境、讀者的互動，應也能具體而微反映在晚明社會文化中文士自我形象的建構、流衍歷程。

Ruan Dacheng, a notorious traitor during the transition of Ming and Qing dynasties, serves as a striking counterexample to the traditional Chinese poetic ideal of “poetry reflecting the poet's character.” Previous research has predominantly focused on whether his poetry genuinely reflected his character or has discussed his poetry in isolation from his personal character. This paper situates Ruan Dacheng and his poetry within the triparte space of era, author, and reader, analyzing his image construction aimed at the literati community and his attempts to overturn his traitorous reputation. It examines the different personas he presented, the corresponding rhetorical strategies, and the underlying motives of self-expression.
The analysis reveals the following: 1. in response to accusations of being part of the eunuch faction, he deliberately portrayed himself as transcending partisan conflicts and as an innocent victim, with his stance depending entirely on the political climate. 2. after bearing the infamy of rebellion, he retreated to pastoral life, presenting himself as a serene recluse averse to chaos, yet subtly expressing a sense of distinction and a desire for understanding from kindred spirits. 3. in line with the contemporary need for military talent due to internal and external crises, he emphasized his contributions to quelling the Tongcheng rebellion and lamented his perceived impotence regarding the national situation. He implicitly criticized partisan strife as detrimental to state affairs, subtly crafting an image of himself as a capable statesman.
These seemingly disparate personas form a coherent self-narrative that combines the emotions of Qu Yuan and Tao Yuanming, presenting an idealized image that contrasts with contemporary “misunderstandings” and resonates with readers. This case study provides deeper insights into Ruan Dacheng’s self-image construction and interaction with the contemporary environment and readers, also reflecting the broader processes of self-image construction and dissemination among literati in late Ming society.