《資治通鑑》的亡國君主及其鑑戒意義

Emperors of the Lost Kingdoms and the Admonition Expressed in ZiZhi TongJian (History as a Comprehensive Mirror)

司馬光編撰《資治通鑑》之主要目的在於提供政治鑑戒，所預設之讀者為帝王，為使帝王知所儆懼，每詳載歷代亡國人君之悲慘下場。惟季世亡國之君並非皆如其籠統所說之「荒淫無厭」、「下愚不可移」，若據司馬光〈才德論〉所言，徵諸《通鑑》之所載述，實有才德俱無、有才無德、德行未虧而乏才，以及德才無虧者。司馬光極為重視人君之「明」，以其聯繫治國之要的「用人」，關係著政治成敗，甚至國家興亡。德行未虧而乏才者之亡國，雖不似前二者有荒淫殘暴之過，卻與前二者同缺知人善任之明。至於才德無虧者之亡國，則因前任帝王用人不當、荒嬉怠政，以致根基蝕壞，而上承其咎。《通鑑》不辭覶縷詳述亡國人君或宗族覆滅，或屈辱而死，或含恥苟活，或被弒，或自盡等悲慘結局，用意固在於使人君心生儆懼，能及身而治，勿貽憂嗣君，以致宗廟無祀、社稷不得血食。

The main purpose of Sima Guang in compiling ZiZhi TongJian was to provideadmonishment against undue governance. Targeting the successive emperors as hisintended readers, and to caution future emperors, Sima Guang detailed the tragicdismiss of the lost dynasties. However, not all emperors of the lost kingdoms wereof 'insatiable' and 'stubbornly ignorant' characters as generally stereotyped. SimaGuang categorized the last emperors in his 'On Virtues and Talents' into four kinds,namely those without talents and virtues, those with talents but no virtues, thosewith fully developed virtues and talents but no talented subjects, and those withconsummated virtues and talents. Sima Guang placed a great value on the “wisdom”of the ruler, for its relation to the art of “leadership”, which in turns determine thesuccess of governance, and even the thriving of the kingdom. Although the virtuousand untalented ones were not to be ranked on the same level as the first twocategories who were promiscuous and cruel in nature, but one weakness they didhave in common was the lack of wisdom in leadership. On the other hand, thosewho possessed both the talents and virtues, were, however, doomed because of improper leadership, the negligent and procrastinated governance inherited from thepredecessors that resulted in the erosion of the foundation, and eventually lead tothe collapse of the kingdom. In ZiZhi TongJian, Sima Guang had spared no effort indescribing the dire consequences of the emperors who lost the kingdoms or theentire ruling clan in minute details, some survived in humiliation, some merelymaintained a shameful living, others executed or committed suicide. The purportwas to arouse caution and fear, hence enabled them to be self-disciplined ingoverning the kingdom, without worrying about no heirs to succeed which leads tono worship or offerings for the ancestral shrine and fall of a country.