宋代驿递分立影响下的“驿券”与“走马头子”考辨

Study of “Postal Vouchers” and “Zoumatouzi” under the Influence of Separation of Post and Delivery in Song Dynasty

周秦之际,随着国家的建立出现了若干驿路与馆驿,驿传制度得以初步确立,且此后历朝历代皆有进一步完善。唐宋是驿传变革的重要时期,宋初太祖实行驿递分立制度后,驿负责接待过往行旅、提供食宿,传承担邮递文书、提供车马之责。在此两种职能分离的影响下,宋时"驿券"与"走马头子"各自由不同机构执掌,且其功用较之前代发生了重大变化。而券食制度的变革又对肃清宋代官场中贪腐之风产生了深远影响。

During the Zhou and Qin Dynasties,a number of post roads and courier stations emerged with the establishment of the state and the post system was initially established.Since then the system has improved with each dynasty.The Tang and Song dynasties were important periods for the reform of post system.After Emperor Taizu implemented the separation system of post delivery in the early Song Dynasty,the courier stations were used for receiving the couriers and providing food and accommodation,and the post delivery was responsible for delivering documents and providing vehicles and horses.Influenced by the separation of these two functions,the"postal vouchers"and"Zoumatouzi"were issued by different organizations in Song Dynasty and their functions changed greatly compared with the previous generations.The reform of the voucher system had a far-reaching impact on the elimination of corruption in the officialdom of Song Dynasty.