On The Crafty And Fawning Image Of Wangqiong In "Ming Wuzong Shilu"

The phenomenon of covering up and distorting the facts, whichwill destroy the credit of historical materials, exists in the memoir of dynastiescomplied in Ming Dynasty in varying degree. "Ming Wuzong Shilu" also is notexceptional, in which the related records of Minister Wangqiong is a typicalexample. The Wangqiong's records of editors headed by Yang Tinghe have thephenomenon of covering up and distorting the facts, which leads to the formationof the crafty and fawning image of Wangqiong. The author seeks to discriminateand research the historical materials on Wangqiong to return the real image backto him based on the massive literature materials.This paper is mainly divided into six sections in detail:In the preface, the author has firstly stated the writing origin and purpose ofthis paper. The related historical materials of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu"have the phenomenon of covering up and distorting the facts, which leads to theformation of the crafty and fawning image of Wangqiong. But regarding this, thetoo big attention has not been received in historian circle at present. The purpose isto return a real image back to Wangqiong. This is the writing origin. Researchingthis is beneficial to deepen the Wangqiong's research and know the consequencebrought about by the compiling system.The second part contrasts the image of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu"and the image of Wangqiong in some other historical records of Ming and QingDynasties. Wangqiong is a crafty and fawning image in "Ming Wuzong Shilu". Butin some other historical records of Ming and Qing Dynasties, he is a official withmany achievements. The former and the later are widely divergent.Part three is on the crafty and fawning image of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzongshilu". The editors adopted four kinds of treating ways to mold a crafty andfawning image for Wangqiong, which were keeping a record of events with hidingachievements, hiding the events and achievements, denouncing and deridingsomebody willfully and framing a case against somebody deliberately. First,keeping a record of events with hiding achievements is discussed. This conditionhas two places in "Ming Wuzong Shilu", which are managing the political affairs of salt and abolishing the rules of promotion through chopping off the heads.Second, hiding the events and achievements is discussed. This condition has threeplaces, which are defending the capital city, putting down the rebellion which wasled by Tang Majiu and exterminating Jiangbin. Third, denouncing and deridingsomebody willfully is discussed. This condition has two places, which areabolishing Yushi of clearing up the troops and improving the rank of militaryofficial selecting examination. Four, framing a case against somebody deliberatelyis discussed. This condition has four places, which are ganging up with theeunuches, making a false charge against Pengze, ganging up with king Ning andganging up with Mahao. Through discriminating and researching the materials,the author thinks the image of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu" doesn't accordwith the historical facts indeed. To make a comprehensive survey of Wangqiong'lifetime, the author thinks that he was a historical figure who had scheming, abilityand outstanding political achievements extremely. During a certain era of Zhengde,he had many achievements in managing the political affairs of salt in the Board ofRevenue, submitting a request to abolish the rules of promotion through choppingoff the heads and Yushi of clearing up the troops, improving the rank of militaryofficial selecting examination, defending the capital city, putting down the rebellionwhich was led by Tang Majiu and King Ning in the Board of War andexterminating Jiangbin in the Board of Civil. In brief, he played a highly vital rolein the medium term of Ming Dynasty.The fourth part analyses the causes of the formation of the crafty and fawningimage of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu" from the contradiction betweenYang Tinghe and Wangqiong. This is because of the smears from his politicalopponents, which was deeply caused by the fighting between the political partygroupings. But the key is the contradiction between Yang Tinghe and Wangqiong.The fifth part states the consequences caused by the crafty and fawning imageof Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu". The historical materials on Wangqiongand the crafty and fawning image of Wangqiong in "Ming Wuzong Shilu" affecteda few historical records. They were wrongly informed. The phenomenon ofcovering up and distorting the facts not only conceals the real image of wangqiong,but also denies the fundamental value of "Ming Shilu"——recording somethingaccording to the facts. In the conclusion, the author thinks Wangqiong was unconventional, hadwisdom and resourcefulness, had many political achievements during being aofficial and played a highly vital role in the medium term of Ming Dynasty.