宋代地方政府之官吏关系与地方政治

Relations of Magistrates and Government Clerks and Their Influence on the Regional Politics of the Song Dynasty

宋代地方政府的政务主要是由官和吏来处理。由于宋代官尊吏卑的名分非常严格,中央的政令都是下达给地方官来执行的。但官要进行统治,又必须通过吏,所以宋代虽然吏的地位很低,但在地方政府中的作用却举足轻重。地方政府内部的官吏关系,成为决定宋代地方政治走向的重要因素。但不论是官欺压或勒索吏,还是"吏强官弱",还是两者狼狈为奸,都必然造成和加深地方政治的贪腐和黑暗。期间尽管有个别清官,也能对奸吏进行惩处,却无补于宋代地方政治贪腐和黑暗的整体形势。

The government of Song Dynasty was composed mainly of two groups of people： magistrates and clerks, the former enjoying superior status over the latter. Owing to this superiority relationship, the magistrates were responsible for implementing policies of the central government. The practical work of their implementation, however, required the efforts of the clerks. Thus, while inferior in political status, the clerks played a very important role in the regional politics. Their collaboration resulted in the general corruption of the regional governments of the whole nation.