Assassin Stone Engravings in Wu Liang Shrine

作为汉画像石的代表作,武梁祠的六组刺客画像一向备受关注。一般认为,这些画像与汉代“三纲“观念中的君臣关系相对应,宣扬臣下对君主的无限忠诚。但是,这一解释忽略了刺客画像中“复仇“的因素。在汉代游侠风气和公羊学说的双重影响之下,刺客画像中的复仇因素引人注目,并由于含有否定权力之性质而成为当时争论的重要问题。墓主武梁集中使用这一敏感主题装饰墓室,实际上是对个体政治意识的明确展示。鉴于汉代丧葬仪式的性质,祠堂画像充当着沟通死者与吊祭者的媒介作用,因此刺客画像不仅反映了武梁个人的意识,同时也体现出东汉后期士人阶层的共同观念。总之,刺客画像中忠诚与复仇两种因素,反映出东汉士人对待二重性君臣关系的现实态度与政治理想。As well-known examples of relief stone sculptures in Han dynasty,six assassin images in Wu Liang Shrine are popularly regarded as symbol of royalty.However,this interpretation significantly ignored the important element of revenge.Considering great influence of fashionable paladins and Gong-yang School in pre-Han dynasty,these assassins should be interpreted as not only loyal subjects of their master but also dangerous subverters of central government.For the matter,through decorating his tomb with so many assassin images,the tomb occupant,Wu Liang,expressed his personal political position.On the other hand,as primary viewers,mourners enjoyed the sight of these images.With the help of the especial meaning of assassin images,the political position of Wu Liang was also delivered to mourners who belonging to the Confucian stratum.Through the metaphor of assassins,royalty and rebellion became two ways to keep the political ideal of Confucian stratum at last