历代便宜权的授予

Granting Power of Bian Yi(便宜权) in Ancient China

便(pián)宜有价钱低、实惠、不应得的利益等意思,便(biàn)宜则是方便、合适的意思。便宜权是后者,可以斟酌事宜,不拘陈规,自行决断处理。中国古代在便宜权授予方面有多种形式,授予的便宜权大小也有区别,并且形成严格的制度。总体上看,拥有便宜权,一是可以在职权范围内办理各种事务的时候有较大的自主权力,因为不符合政务运行程序,所以要特别授予;二是可以拥有较大的专断权力,因为有较为独立的权力,必须经朝廷授予。由此产生的特殊授权制度,既是必要的,也是无奈的,还是必然的,而且是制度予以规范的,在具体政务上往往能够发挥官员的主观能动性,其利弊得失,值得认真总结。

Bian yi （便宜） means convenience and one can handle matters as appropriate without sticking appropriateness. Power of Bian yi （便宜权） means to old conventions. There are various kinds of forms to grant power of Bian yi in ancient China. The power is different and follows strict rules. Generally speaking, on the one hand, power of Bian yi should be granted unconventionally since it gives the officials independent rights to handle all kinds of matters and doesn＇t conform to the running program of government. On the other hand, power of Bian yi must be conferred by the imperial court owing to its specificity. The special empow- erment system is necessary though helpless, it has it can make the officials play subjective initiative in dealing with government affairs.