前漢武帝代の酷吏張湯について

Abstract

The direct aim of this essay is to trace the life of the rapacious official, Chang T'ang, and thus indirectly grasp the characteristics of the former half of the reign of Emperor Wu. Chang T'ang rose from the lowly position of a scribe, seized an opportunity at success based on reliance on the maternal relatives of Emperor Wu, and was active as a central official when the mature Emperor Wu as autocratic ruler had to reform domestic and foreign policy in name and reality. However, in order to continue receiving imperial trust and favors under this autocartic system, he had to continue defeating other officials by intrigue and betrayal and cause their fall from power. This was precisely how the victorious Chang T'ang himself finally fell to defeat and committed suicide. Intrigue and betrayal were not only used between officials, but also by the feudal lords who opposed the central government's implementation of policy. The King of Chao 趙王, P'eng-tsu 彭祖, opposed the system of salt and iron monopolies which Chang began under his own leadership ； and he designed a plot to bring Chang down. This too was one factor in Chang's fall from power. Chang made his appearance and was active as a statesman who assisted in the major undertakings of Emperor Wu, but due to rivalries within the officialdom as well as the plotting of the feudal lords he fell from power and had to commit suicide--this, I believe, was a natural resolution of events.