清朝的最初六、七十年，是中國民間南明史著述活動的蓬勃時期。這段時間，相對寬鬆的政治氣氛，為持不同政見的史家，提供了一個暢所欲言的議事平台。在「經世致用」的前提下，不少史家都熱衷於總結明亡清興的歷史教訓，以求為解決當世的問題提供借鑑。在整個南明史話語的建構過程中，建基於不同觀點和立場下的歷史書寫，無疑是當時各方勢力，爭奪話語和文化領導權的鬥爭工具。清初明遺民對於為明殉節者的追思和表彰，可以理解為他們堅持抗清，對本身遺民身分的自我認同，而對於那些認同新建滿洲政權的漢族新貴，明、清鼎革，則正好說明了天命的轉移。受到遺民史觀的影響，清初漢人多存在著一種既認同清人統治合法性，又不忍否定南明正統的心理情結。這種情結，最終發展出一種調和明、清政治對立的「去政治化」史觀，希望以傳統儒家道德詮釋，取代過往帶有強烈政治隱喻的歷史解讀方法，作為人們回顧這段改朝換代歷史的敘事角度。在朝、野近一個世紀的唱和後，這種以「為萬世綱常」的儒家倫理史觀，逐漸取代了過往明遺民「為故國存信史」的「明人」史觀，成了清代知識階層對於這段易代歷史的集體記憶。

The first decades of the Qing dynasty witnessed prolific development of historical writings on Southern Ming history. The comparatively relaxed atmosphere provided a platform for literati with diverse political stances to voice their views on the historical events that concerned them. Emphasizing the use of history in statecraft, many Chinese historians considered the history of the Ming fall and Qing rise to offer a valuable lesson for rulers in the future. In the social construction of the early Qing discourse on the resistance history of 1644-1662, the narratives by historians from different social groups became a tool in the struggle for cultural dominance and hegemony. To the remnant Ming loyalists, the Ming yimin, their remembering and appreciation of the late Ming martyrs, to a large extent, were an expression of their anti-Qing sentiment and determination to live as yimin. However, to the Han Chinese in the new government, the history of the Ming-Qing dynastic change merely indicated a shift of Heaven’s Will. Influenced by the yimin scholars, many Han Chinese in the early Qing were ambivalent about accepting the legitimacy of Qing rule and considered the Southern Ming a legitimate dynasty in Chinese history. This ambivalence in time led to a less politicized interpretation of the resistance history that regarded the deeds of the Ming loyalists as an embodiment of Confucian principles and virtues. As a result of reconciliation, the new interpretation in the end became a collective memory of the history of the Ming-Qing transition among the Qing’s subjects.

明遺民；明清；歷史書寫；文化領導權

Ming patriot (yimin); Ming-Qing; historical writings; cultural hegemony