论西汉的自杀现象

西汉自杀现象并非波及于社会各阶层,而是主要集中在二千石以上高级官吏和诸侯王等一定范围。他们本对生命有着深深的眷恋,希望永生不死地生活着,然而死亡偏偏如影随形般紧跟着他们。皇帝的一己私意,或怨或怒,便可使围绕在他周围的所有人,包括王侯将相、后妃公主、宗室外戚,统统立死不待。因此汉代人的死,充满了恐惧、哀怨和悲愤,他们的自杀行为没有什么信念支持,而只是浸透着屈辱和无奈。

On the Phenomenon of Commiting Suicide in the West-Han Dynasty

Committing suicide in the West-Han Dynasty didn't happen widely but in a limited range. It centralized mainly on the feudal princes and those high officials. The emperor was suspicious and jealous of the feudal princes just because they belonged to the imperial family and might seize the imperial power; the emperor also wanted his officials to obey him with no reason, so the rule had come into being that high officials should commit suicide if the emperor wanted them to do it without any exculpation. Besides these two reasons the cruel law and torture forced people choose suicide in order to ease the horror and pain. The suicide committing was full of pain and horror. There was no choice for people since the imperial power they faced was much stronger.