论宋代基层区划:乡的边界及其划界原则

On Regional Classification in Song Dynasty: The Boundary and Demarcation Principles of Township

北宋元丰年间以前,乡是县以下一级"实体政务"区划,其数量和幅员随着人口的损益而变化,故边界尚不稳定。王安石变法之后,乡的行政职能被大大削弱,"乡系户口"的功能也随之消失,乡界逐渐稳固下来。保甲法、经界法等基层改革都是在乡内完成,并不跨乡编排,这种政策性的规定强化了乡的整体性,使乡界变得越来越清晰。依据乡所邻对象的差别,可将其边界细分为四类:乡与乡的分界;乡与路州军县等政区的分界;乡与行政治所的分界;乡与市镇的分界。从现有材料分析,乡的划界大体上遵循"山川形便"原则,这既是为了基层官员管理的便利,又符合自然聚落形成的规律。

Before the Yuanfeng’s reign of the Northern Song Dynasty,the number and size of the townships changed with the growth and decline of the population,so the boundary was not stable.After Wang Anshi’s reform,the administrative function of the township was hugely diminished,along with disappearance of the function of"township household",and the boundary of township gradually stabilized.Rather than crossing boundary,the basic reforms like the Baojia law and the boundary law were completed within townships.Such policy provisions strengthened the integrity of the township,making the boundaries of rural areas clearer.According to the differences among the neighboring entities,the boundaries can be divided into four categories:boundary between the townships;demarcation of the administrative district between the town and the state army county;boundary between the township and the administrative office;and demarcation of a township and a town.The analyses based on existing material show that the demarcation of the townships generally follows the principle of"Shan Chuan Xing Bian"(mountain and river form),which is not only for the administrative convenience of grassroots officials,but also in line with the law of the formation of natural settlements.