商代边境的“小臣”

Minor officials in the Frontiers of the Shang Dynasty

商代有“小臣”一官职,有内服小臣,也有外服小臣。外服小臣,或是被商王分封到边境的同姓或异姓贵族,或是任命臣服于商王朝的方国首领,他们对维护商王朝边境的安宁,起过重要作用。

There were such official positions as minor officials in the Shang dynasty. Some of them serve the royal family at the imperial court. Some of them are nobles from the royal family or other noble families assigned to frontier areas of the Shang dynasty, or, local leaders who submit themselves to the rule of the Shang sovereignty. The latter played an important role in maintaining security and peace of the Shang frontiers.