坚辞而难退忍辱而负重--兼论李东阳的人品

明初的李东阳历仕四朝,为官50年,身居宰辅之位19年,又在成化、弘治间主持文柄,确乎是当时政坛、文坛的泰斗人物。然因武宗继位之初宠信阉竖刘瑾,导致刘瑾专权四年有余,在此期间李东阳身为朝廷重臣,既未能及时铲除权奸,又未能及时急流勇退,于是有人指责他“依阿”刘瑾,有人指责他贪恋禄位,自然也有人为他鸣不平。这样,关于李东阳的人品问题也就成了一桩讼案。实际上李东阳是个淡薄名利、为官清正、人品正直的士大夫。

Bearing Affront and Burdening Bitterness: Comments on Li Dongyang's Characters

Li Dongyang lived in the early Ming Danasty.He had been a senior official,about 50 years for 4 emperors in the Ming Dynasty.And he had been a Prime Minister for 19 years.Besides,he managed the culture during the time from Chenghua to Hongzhi.There's no doubt that he was the top in politics and literary fields.However,Emperor Wuzong appraised Liu Jin so much that Liu Jin was control of the country for over 4 years.During that time,Li Dongyang,as an important official,not only could not deal with the ill man who owned the power,but also made himself irrelevant.As a result,someone accused of his depending on Liu Jin,and others criticized his being greedy for power,but still other people thought that it was unfair for him.Therefore,it became a case about the character of Li Dongyang.This paper attempts to reveal the true character of Li Dongyang,according to the history of Ming Dynasty,Li Dongyang's own poems,his friends' statements and the narrations of the later generations.It has overturned the formers' views in details.