晁错论
《晁错论》原文
天下之患,最不可为者,名为治平无事,而其实有不测之忧。坐观其变,而不为之所,则恐至于不可救;起而强为之,则天下狃于治平之安,而不吾信。惟仁人君子豪杰之士,为能出身为天下犯大难,以求成大功。此固非勉强期月之间,而苟以求名之所能也。
天子发政施仁,必自贵近始。故吾谓晁错之策,削诸侯以尊京师,安内攘外,为长久计,虽三代可行,而错不免于祸者,何也?削之过急也。夫以七国之强,而骤削之,其为变岂足怪哉?错不于此时捐其身,为天下当大难之冲,而制吴楚之命,乃为自全之计,欲使天子自将,而已居守。且夫发七国之难者,谁乎?己欲求其名,安所逃其患?以自将之至危,与居守之至安,己为难首,择其至安,而遗天子以其至危,此忠臣义士所以愤惋而不平者也。
当此之时,虽无袁盎,错亦不免于祸。何者?己欲居守,而使人主自将。以情而言,天子固已难之矣。而重违其议,是以袁盎之说,得行于其间。使吴楚反,错已身任其危,日夜淬砺,东向而待之,使不至 于累其君,则天子将恃之以为无恐,虽有百盎,可得而间哉?
嗟夫!世之君子,欲求非常之功,则无务为自全之计。使错自将而讨吴楚,未必无功。惟其欲自固其身,而天子不悦,奸臣得以乘其隙。错之所以自全者,乃其所以自祸欤!
中文翻译
天下的祸患,最难以应对的,是表面看似太平无事,实则暗藏难以预测的危机。若坐视危机发展而不干预,恐怕会演变为无法挽救的局面;若强行出手干预,世人又会因沉溺于表面的安定而不再信任。唯有仁人志士中的豪杰,才愿挺身而出,为天下承担巨大风险,以求成就大业。这绝非短期的权谋或沽名钓誉所能实现。
君主施行仁政,必先从亲近重臣开始。因此我认为晁错的策略——削弱诸侯以尊崇中央,安定内政以抵御外患,本是长远之计。即便三代圣王推行亦可成功,但晁错仍不免遭祸,原因何在?在于削藩过急。以七国强盛之势骤然削弱,引发叛乱有何奇怪?晁错未能在此时以身犯险,替天下承担平定叛乱的艰难,反而谋划自保之计,企图让天子亲自率军平叛,自己留守京城。试问挑起七国叛乱的是谁?他既想博取功名,又怎能逃避祸患?以亲自率军的至危之境,换取留守的绝对安全,自己成为祸首,却将天子置于最危险的境地——这正是忠臣义士愤懑不平的原因。
若当时没有袁盎,晁错仍难逃一死。为何?因他企图让天子亲征,自己坐镇后方。从人情而言,天子本就对此心存疑虑,又怎能违背其意愿?于是袁盎的谗言得以乘虚而入。假使晁错主动承担平叛重任,日夜整军备战,严阵以待,使叛军不敢进犯,天子必倚重其能力而无后顾之忧,纵有百个袁盎,又怎能离间君臣?
嗟叹!世间的所谓君子,若想建立非凡功业,就应摒弃自保的私心。若晁错亲自率军讨伐吴楚,未必不能成功。正因其贪恋自身安全,招致天子猜忌,奸臣趁机进谗。晁错用以自保的计谋,恰恰成了自取灭亡的根源!
英文翻译
The greatest peril in governance lies not in overt chaos, but in deceptively tranquil times hiding unforeseen crises. To watch passively and do nothing invites disaster; to act hastily risks losing public trust. Only noble heroes dare to shoulder immense risks for lasting glory—achievements no short-term schemer can accomplish.
When a ruler implements benevolent policies, he must start with his closest aides. Thus, Chao Cuo’s strategy to weaken feudal lords and strengthen the central court, though wise for eternity, failed because of his impatience. The seven rebellious states, once provoked, naturally revolted. Chao Cuo’s mistake? He sought self-preservation. Instead of leading the army himself during crisis, he let the emperor command the battle while he stayed behind. Who provoked the rebellion? Chao Cuo himself! He sought fame yet fled danger, forcing the emperor into peril while he hid safely. No loyalist could stomach this.
Had there been no Yuan Ang, Chao Cuo still would have perished. Why? Because he let the emperor lead the army. The emperor, already wary, easily heeded Yuan Ang’s slander. If Chao Cuo had instead taken command, rallied troops day and night, and held the front lines, the rebels would have hesitated. The emperor would have trusted him implicitly—no slander could shake that bond.
Alas! Those who crave extraordinary deeds must abandon self-serving calculations. Chao Cuo’s desire for safety bred distrust, letting treacherous officials exploit his weakness. His “self-preservation” became his executioner!
背景补充
- 作者与创作背景
- 苏轼(1037—1101),北宋文豪,“唐宋八大家”之一。此文作于宋仁宗嘉祐年间(1056—1063),苏轼时年约20岁,借评析西汉晁错削藩之策,影射北宋积弊,表达对变法风险的深刻思考。
- 历史关联:晁错为汉景帝谋臣,主张削藩引发“七国之乱”,遭袁盎构陷被杀。苏轼借古讽今,暗批北宋士大夫空谈误国、因循守旧。
- 核心思想
- 主旨:批判晁错“重谋略而轻担当”的致命缺陷,强调改革者需兼具勇气与智慧,不可因自保而贻误大局。
- 政治哲思:
- 风险与责任:真正的改革者应如“犯大难”之勇者,而非规避风险的自保者。
- 权谋之弊:过度依赖帝王信任(如让天子亲征)、忽视争取同僚支持(如孤立袁盎),终致失败。
- 现实映射:暗指北宋积弱源于官员遇事推诿,缺乏晁错式的决断力,又无其担当精神。
- 艺术特色
- 层层递进:以“天下之患—晁错之失—治乱之鉴”为脉络,逻辑严密。
- 对比论证:将晁错“自全之计”与理想改革者“犯大难”对比,凸显其人格局限。
- 语言犀利:如“己欲求其名,安所逃其患”直指晁错矛盾本质,辛辣如刀。
- 历史评价
- 被清代学者储欣评为“古今论晁错第一文字”,赞其“洞见症结,不独为汉人说法”。
- 现代学者认为此文暗含对王安石变法的警示,苏轼借晁错之死呼吁改革者“既谋变革,必担后果”。
- 文化影响
- 文中“削藩过急”成为后世改革教训的经典案例,清末维新派亦引以为鉴。
- “自全之计”被提炼为成语“替身之祸”,喻指遇事推诿反致灾祸。
- 关联拓展
- 与苏轼《贾谊论》《范增论》并称“人物论三篇”,均以历史人物成败探讨为政之道。
- 清代曾国藩批注此文:“错之败,在不能忍。忍则待时,急则生变。”揭示苏轼思想中的儒道融合特质。