An Account of The Memorialised Request By Daxueshi Wang Shan that the Kangxi Emperor name a Successor

Abstract

The issue concerning the naming by the Kangxi Emperor of a successor has long received the attention of researchers in Qing history, but the story of Wang Shan’s memorial to the elderly emperor requesting that he appoint an heir-apparent has not been told. The story sheds light on the changes in the thinking of the Kangxi Emperor regarding the matter and on the changes in the fortunes of Wang Shan’s family. Through a study of documents and events, and relying in particular on the interpretation of the document ’The case of Kangxi’s appointment of an heir’ in Wenxian congbian, the author sheds light on Wang Shan’s motivation and on the Kangxi Emperor’s reluctance to reveal his dilemma in making a decision.

清康熙朝的建儲之議,一直以來備受清史研究者關注,惟康熙晚年大學士王掞密奏建儲一事的始末,尚未盡白于世。弄清此事原委,對了解康熙冊儲思想的變化及王挾家族的際遇,不無裨益。本文通過文獻及史事考證,以厘訂《文獻叢編·康熙建儲案》所收王掞議儲密折的奏上時間為主線,進而剖析王掞議儲的心理及康熙處理此事的隱衷。