摘要
有元一代，所有出仕任官的南人之中，葉李不是官階最高，卻是最有實權者。本文試圖梳理葉李的生平行事，重新考察他在宋元之際的出處及作為，特別是他的入仕歷程、政治表現及其影響，藉以探究南人入元後的境遇和定位等問題。研究顯示：元世祖對於葉李的信任可謂始終不渝，除了看重他卓越的軍政能力外，更是欣賞他的不計名利和剛直性格。這樣的性格讓葉李不易結黨營私，不會刻意追求權勢，堪稱統治者心中理想的棋子，但也容易成為政敵優先打擊的對象。葉李死後，象徵世祖吸納南方士人到朝廷的政策告一段落，待至統治者試圖重拾世祖舊制，取消南人任官限制，可是為時已晚。
Among all the southern Chinese who served as officials in the Yuan dynasty, Ye Li 葉李 (1242–1292) was the most powerful despite not being the highest ranking. This article scrutinizes the life and behavior of Ye Li, reexamining his seclusion and official career during the Song-Yuan transition, especially his political involvement and influence, to explore the position of the southern Chinese in the Yuan. Emperor Shizu of Yuan (Qubilai Qan, r. 1260–1294) had always trusted Ye Li, not only for his excellent military and political capabilities but also for his upright character, namely an unconcern for fame and wealth. Owing to such character, Ye Li avoided forming cliques and deliberately pursuing power, which made him an ideal tool of the ruler but also the primary target of attacks by political opponents. After the death of Ye Li, the policy of absorbing southern Chinese literati into the central government in the reign of Emperor Shizu came to an end, to the extent that it was too late when later rulers attempted to restore the previous system and remove the restrictions on southern officials.
關鍵詞
葉李 南人 元初政治 元世祖 桑哥
Ye Li; southern Chinese; politics in the early Yuan; emperor Shizu of Yuan (Qubilai Qan); Sangha