论汉代的督邮

On the Superintendent of Post in the Han Dynasty

本文论述了汉代督邮的职掌、人选、地位和作用。汉代督邮作为郡国属吏，最初只是督送邮书；随着中央集权政治的强化，其职责始以监察属县为主。督邮职微权重，担任此职者多出身贫寒又富有学识才干，在郡国属吏中被称为“极位”。督邮的设置，对整饬吏治、稳定社会秩序。

Abstract This paper explores the power,the candidates,the status and the function of the Superintendent of Post in the Han Dynasty.At first the Superintendent of Post only supervised the sending and receiving of mail at the prefecture level.Its main function turned to supervising the subordinate counties when the central government began to strengthen its political power.The Superintendent of Post had great power although his official rank was not very high.Most of the candidates of the Superintendent of Post were from poor families,but they were learned and capable.He was usually called“Ji Wei,”meaning“the top rank”among the officials in the prefecture government.The setting up of the post of Superintendent of Post helped to rectify the administration by the officials and stabilize social order.