An Examination of the Historiographic Record in Light of Emperor Wuzong’s Military Defense of Yingzhou, as well as an Assessment of the Special Characteristics of the Veritable Records of the Wuzong Reign

Abstract

<p>正德十二年，明武宗親征應州，逼退蒙軍。《明武宗實錄》的修纂者認為此戰所費不償、戰功甚少且「乘輿幾陷」。但綜合《實錄》的自相矛盾及各方材料所記，可知「乘輿幾陷」並非事實，其傷亡情況亦有諸多疑點。由於武宗等人要為正德朝的「失德」負責，且應州封功確有冒濫，加上京城曾有皇帝被俘的訛言，於是文官們順此思路，淡化了前者的功績。而世宗為塑造新政及其父子的權威，文臣們又欲借此清洗政敵、重拾威望，使得《明武宗實錄》以揭露武宗的負面形象、批判各類「改制」之事、強調文官的正直與遠見為主要傾向。這體現《實錄》主、客觀性交織的特點，也反映出正、嘉兩朝的政治變動，以及世宗和文官集團所欲塑造的前朝記憶。</p> <p> </p><p>In the twelfth year of the Zhengde reign, the Wuzong Emperor personally led his troops to Yingzhou in defense against the nomadic tribes. However, the editors of the Veritable Records of the Wuzong Reign thought that this war was unremunerative, presented few achievements, and put the emperor in danger. After a comprehensive investigation of the contradictions in the Veritable Records of the Wuzong Reign and other historical sources, we can conclude that the assertion, “Emperor Wuzong was nearly captured by the enemy” is not factual and that there remain many doubts about the level of casualties. Moreover, Emperor Wuzong was deemed responsible for the “lack of moral governance” during his reign, and there were rumors in the capital that the emperor had been captured. Thus, the compilers followed this line of thinking and downplayed Wuzong’s accomplishments.<br />In shaping new policies and assuming power from his father, Emperor Shizong directed his ambitious officials who themselves desired to purge their political opponents, to expose Wuzong’s negative image and criticize his every reform in their writing of the Veritable Records, during which they emphasized their own integrity and vision. In this respect, the Veritable Records embody the simultaneous interweaving of subjective and objective views and reflect the political changes of the Zhengde and Jiajing reign as well as the attempts of Emperor Shizong and his officials to shape the memory of the previous reign.</p> <p> </p>