“王杖诏书”与汉代养老制度

Laws on Emperor Stick" and Old-age Support System in Han Dynasty

汉代养老制度确立于汉文帝,以后迭有变更;武威新简所载成帝令把汉代养老制度发展到了一个新阶段。宣帝本始二年实行的赐王杖制度和养老制度有相通之处,但并不同一。养老制度是对丧失劳动能力的老年人的义务赡养,而王杖仅赐予里父老、县、乡三老这一特殊群体,是对他们沟通社情民意、维护国家统治的酬谢。养老与王杖制度并行,目的都是建立和维护儒家的伦理系统以稳定社会秩序。

The old-age support system in Han Dynasty was established during the reign of Emperor Wen,and was modified several times after that. The order recorded in Wu-wei new tablet developed thissystem into a new stage. Emperor stick (stick granted by emperor) system was put into practice inthe second year of Benshi period, had general characters with old -age support system, but was notidentical with that. The old-age support system was to support the old man losing labor capability,but Emperor stick was only granted to the village elders in reward for their communicating publicfeeling and defending the rule of dynasty. The implementation of both two systems was to establishand defend Confucian ethical system to stabilize social order.