两汉时期民族关系中的“质子”现象

"Hostages" in the Han Dynasties

两汉时期是我国统一的多民族国家确立和发展的时期,此时边疆少数民族与内地政权的交往更为密切,民族关系纷繁复杂。边疆民族与内地政权间“入侍为质”和“纳质为臣”的现象也在这一时期大量出现,在不同的阶段呈现出不同的特色。一、“质子”从两汉时期开始普遍存在于民族交往中,并作为维系宗属关系的工具之一;二、两汉时“质子”逐渐被纳入朝贡制度的一部分;三、两汉时期的“质子”现象大多出现在汉朝国力强盛时期。“纳质为臣”现象客观上加强了边疆民族与中原地区的联系,促进内地政权与边疆民族的经济,文化来往,巩固了封建王朝对边疆的统治。

The Han Dynasties witnessed the establishment and development of unified multi-nationalities. The frontier ethnic minority regions maintained closer ties with the Central Government and ethnic relations showed greater complexity. The phenomena of taking hostages arose during this period in a massive manner and took on special features. （1） sending and accepting hostages prevailed in ethnic communications in the Han Dynasties, which served to establish the suzerain-vassal relations; （2） hostages sending gradually became a part of the tributary system ; （3） hostages sending mostly happened at the prime time of the Han Dynasties. This phenomenon strengthened the relations between the frontier ethnic groups and Central Government, promoted their economic and cultural communications, and consolidated the ruling of the feudal dynasties over the frontier regions.