The trial of Qian Mingshi and the history of the Qian family in Changzhou = "名教罪人"案與常州錢氏家族

Abstract

Qian Mingshi (錢名世, 1660-1730) was a prominent poet in the Early Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). He was condemned by Emperor Yongzheng (1678-1735, r. 1722-1735) as a Mingjiao zuiren (名教罪人, a renegade who went against the teachings of the sages [or, Confucianism]) for flattering general Nian Gengyao (年羹堯, 1679-1726) with panegyric poems. Previous studies on the literary inquisitions of the Qing Dynasty have overlooked this important case, and little research has been conducted on it. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the trial of Qian Mingshi systematically. The thesis is divided into four parts. The first part focuses on Qian's family background and lifetime activity as the basis for discussion. Although only a limited number of Qian's works are extant, this thesis still tries to make an attempt to appraise Qian’s role among the literati associations in early Qing. The second part is a thorough study of Qian Mingshi’s case. Just as in other cases of literary inquisition, the writings of Qian were used as a tool to provide legitimate evidence for his conviction. However, the punishment was profoundly unusual and meaningful: Qian received no physical punishment, but he was made a lifetime example for other members of the literati. It was decreed by the Emperor that every degree holder (jinshi, 進士) serving in the central government should write a poem ridiculing Qian, and the collection of these poems was entitled Mingjiao zuiren as a warning to their fellow literati. Apparently, the purpose of the emperor was to strengthen the imperial authority and spread his political thought. The third part analyses the impact of the case of Qian Mingshi on other literati. After the trial, a few literati such as Zha Shenxing (查慎行, 1650-1727) still maintained friendships with Qian. Shen Deqian (沈德潜, 1673-1769) even collected Qian’s poems and included them in an anthology of poems entitled Qingshi biecaiji (清詩別裁集, A discriminating collection of Qing poetry). This thesis points out that some scholars often overestimate the influence of literary inquisitions. It also reinforces the understanding of the literati’s mentality under the threat of literary inquisition. The fourth part illustrates the influence of Qian Mingshi’s case on the Qian family. In fact, the Qian family was not affected by the trial and held favorable local reputation in Changzhou. It was different from the major cases of literary inquisition such as the case of Zha Siting (查嗣庭) in 1727. Zha, an official from one of Zhejiang's most prominent families, was put on trial and his family also suffered persecution.

錢名世（1660-1730）為清初著名詩人，因贈詩年羹堯（1679-1726），被清世宗（愛新覺羅．胤禛，1678-1735，1722-1735在位）斥為“名教罪人”。世宗下令在京科舉出身官員投詩刺諷，編為《名教罪人》一書。學者研究清代文字獄時，對此案甚少著墨。本文將重新審視案件，嘗試提出一些新見。 本文分為四部分，第一部分考察錢名世生平事蹟及家族背景，說明其交際網絡及文壇地位。這能成為後續討論的基礎 ，也有助瞭解康熙（1662 -1722）、雍正（1723-1735）朝文人群體。 第二部分探究案件起因及性質。錢名世以贈詩內容獲罪，但清世宗處置手法獨特︰錢氏沒有身陷囹圄或喪命，卻被斥為“名教罪人”，受到眾臣批判。本文將說明世宗利用此案警惕其他士人，解決朋黨問題，同時宣揚其政治思想，藉此鞏固皇權。 第三部分說明案件對士人的影響。一些士人如查慎行（1650-1727）案發後未有疏遠錢名世，與之保持友誼；沈德潛（1673-1769）更將錢氏詩作收入《清詩別裁集》。本文嘗試指出過去學者高估文字獄的震懾作用，並說明士人在文字獄壓力下的心態。 第四部分探討案件對錢氏家族的影響。錢氏家族成員沒有受到案件牽連，這與其他文字獄迥然不同：海寧查氏受到查嗣庭（1664-1727）案波及，家族一度衰落。本文將說明錢氏家族案後聲望不衰及其原因，並指出案件的特別之處。