| 摘要: | 夏言於正德十二年（1517）考取進士授行人司行人，初任官職位階卑微。嘉靖十七年（1538）其官拜至首輔高位，是明代歷任首輔中，少數以如此低階的官職初仕，且得以經由特簡入閣，受到皇帝超擢至首輔之位的政治人物。然而其政治命運波折很大，最終以獲罪身死，為明代政治人物中官運反差極大的特殊個案。 嘉靖初期，夏言任給事中時行事風格頗為剛毅正直。此時，明世宗剛即位對於政局的革新正滿懷抱負，因此面對不畏權貴、持疏諤諤的夏言頗有賞識，於是命其裁汰冗員、勘查莊田等，對促進嘉靖新政有著重要的貢獻。大禮議一事之後，世宗更加銳意於禮制的變革，夏言則因倡議郊祀禮迎合帝意而日漸受到超擢。加上，世宗崇信道教把政治權力與宗教信仰高度結合起來，使得長於詩文的夏言，得以藉由撰寫青詞更獲得世宗的青睞而平步青雲。 夏言在受世宗的寵信下獨排異己，在與權臣的傾軋中漸入權力的最高點，於嘉靖十七年（1538）登上首輔之位。然而夏言貴為首輔越顯驕矜，且淪陷於政治的惡鬥中，漸為朝臣所排擠。加上世宗個性偏狹，雖然倚重夏言謀策，採納其諫言，但無法忍受其怠慢不恭。最後在議復河套一事上，為嚴嵩構陷所害，最終落得被棄首的悲慘下場。 夏言的一生最終以悲劇收場，其主張的各項禮儀更定主要是為了迎合世宗，以穩固權勢。然而夏言在政治上仍具有一定的作為，這些主要體現在吏治與財政、教育與取才、軍事與民族政策等三方面，對於嘉靖政局具有推波助瀾的作用。 Hsia Yan was a successful candidate of the highest imperial examination and earned Jinshi in the 12th year of Zhengde (1517) and was conferred Shou-Hsing-Ren and Shi-Hing-Ren. His first official position was low-level. In the 17th year of Jia-Jing (1538), he was promoted as prime minister, the highest position. Among prime ministers of Ming Dynasty, he was one of few political figures who started their political careers from a low-level position to became a member of cabinet through special selection and was promoted as the prime minister by emperor. But his political life experienced dramatic twists and turns before he was convicted to death. Hsia Yan is a special case in political figures in Ming Dynasty whose official careers were wide fluctuation. In the early years of Jia-Jing, as a Ji Shizong, Hsia Yan’s acting style was resolute integrity. During the time, Emperor ShiZhong just ascended the throne and was aspiring for political reforms so he appreciated Hsia Yan’s defying dignitaries and straightforward speaking. The emperor ordered him to eliminate redundancy and give a survey of farmland that contributed significantly to the Jia Jing New Policy. After Great Rite Review event, the emperor was more enthusiastic about the reforms of rites. Hsia Yan catered to the emperor by advocating suburban sacrifice ritual and was extraordinarily promoted to higher positions. In addition, Emperor ShiZhong worshiped Taoism and combined closely the political power and religious belief. Hsia Yan, good at writing poems, was furthered appreciated by the emperor for writing Green Poems and had a meteoric rise in official circles. With full confidence from the emperor, Hsia Yan began to exclude dissidents. In the internal strives among powerful ministers, Hsia Yan climbed on the top of power and became prime minister in the 17th year of Jia-Jing (1538). However, as prime minister, Hsia Yan was more and more arrogant and was caught in political struggles. He was gradually edged out by ministers. Despite depending on Hsia Yan’s suggestions and planning and adopting his opinions, Emperor ShiZhong could not tolerate Hsia Yan’s arrogance and disrespectfulness. Finally, in discussing recovery of He Tao, set up by Yan Song, Hsia Yan was tragically beheaded. The life of Hsia Yan ended in tragedy. The purpose of his reforms of various rituals was mainly to carter the emperor to solidify his own base of power. However, Hsia Yan still had some political performances that were realized in three aspects: governance and finance, education and identifying outstanding talents, military affairs and national policy, that had added the fuel to the Jia-Jing political situation. |
