王安石是中國歷史上極具爭議性的人物。今天被視為改革家的他，在清末以前卻往往被視為權奸。此形象的起源可追溯至南宋，當時君臣有意將亡國之責加諸王氏身上。然而，這形象並未因此而固定下來。直至明代，因為受到朱學大盛及《宋史‧王安石傳》流傳的影響，再加上明代高舉法祖至前所未有的高度，這形象終告確立。至於王安石為人所熟知的另一形象－文豪則是於明代中葉的內憂外患下，由幾位一心想復興國家的士子提倡下慢慢形成。由此可見，明代是王安石權奸、文豪形象固定的時期。藉著研究這位歷史人物，了解其評價的發展與轉變，將有助我們明白歷史人物的評價與時代的互動關係，並可從側面觀察有明一代的政治與思想環境。

Wang Anshi was one of the historical figures who has brought much debate throughout the past nine hundred years in Chinese History. Being considered as a reformer nowadays, he was usually regarded as a treacherous minister before late Qing. Wang's character as a treacherous minister first arose in Southern Song when Emperors and officials tried to shift off the responsibility of the fall of Northern Song to Wang's reform. In Ming period, as a result of the influence of Zhu Xi's Confucianism and Songshi, and the emphasis of ancestor's rules, this character was firmly established. Furthermore, Wang's another well-known character as an eminent writer was also established in mid-Ming by several elites who wished to bring revival to the Empire. As a whole, it can be observed that both characters of Wang as a treacherous minister and an eminent writer were firmly established during Ming. This article studies the development of evaluation on Wang and demonstrates the impact of changes in political situation and thoughts on the evaluation on historical characters.