唐代道制改革与三级制地方行政体制的形成

Reform of the Circuit System and Formation of the Three-level Local Administration during the Tang Dynasty

唐代道制改革是以中央集权、分级管理为制度取向的综合性地方行政管理体制改革。改革起于睿宗、玄宗之际 ,至代宗、德宗之际告一段落 ,经历了景云—开元和乾元—大历两大阶段。第一阶段的发展特点是改造贞观十道的虚设巡察单位性质 ,使之逐渐向实体地方管理层级机构方向发展 ;第二阶段的发展特点是受战争影响 ,加强了观察使、节度使等使府长官在地方行政管理方面的作用 ,同时改进加强了道一级建制的制度建设 ,使之行政实体化。第二阶段及此后百余年唐廷的地方行政 ,就在道级单位作为地方最高一级政府的体制下运行 ,形成道—州府—县分级管理的三级制地方行政管理体制。

The reform of circuit (a province size area) system during the Tang dynasty was a comprehensive reform of local administration oriented towards centralization of authority in the court and state administration at different levels. The reform started from the period of emperors Ruizong and Xuanzong and came to a temporary stop in the period of emperors Daizong and Dezong. It was divided into two major phases with the first from the reign of Jingyun to the reign of Kaiyuan and the second from the reign of Qianyuan to the reign of Dali. The task of the first phase was to change the nominal nature of Xunchashi of ten circuits (Touring Surveillance Commissioner, created in the tenth year of the Zhenguan reign (627 AD), who was a central government official, often a member of the Censorate, delegated to tour a multi prefectural region, investigating and reporting on conditions among the people, the conduct of officials, etc.) and transform the circuits into substantive local administrative organs. The second phase of reform came under the influence of war, the role of Guanchashi (Surveillance Commissioner, originally one of many delegates from the central government) and Jiedushi (Military Commissioner) was strengthened in local administration. Meanwhile the institutional reconstruction was enhanced at the level of the circuit, which was delegated with great substantive power. During the second phase of the reform and the following one hundred years the local administration of the Tang dynasty was run within the three level administrative system——circuit,prefecture and county——with the circuit as the highest local government.