王化与山险--中古早期南方诸蛮历史命运之概观

Research Articles The Imperial Order:Within or Beyond

中古早期,中国南方社会、文化及政治面貌发生巨大变化,其中最深刻的变化是以苗瑶语为主的土著族群以空前的速度和广度所进行的华夏化,这方面留下史料最多的是长江中游的所谓蛮族。深入观察诸蛮社会华夏化的历史过程,会发现在相当长一个时期内,这些多样性极端突出的诸蛮族群,都经历了在"霑沐王化"与"依阻山险"之间的艰难选择,其结果是越来越多的土著族群被吸纳进华夏政权的政治秩序之中。南方各土著族群的华夏化主要是一个政治过程,而且这个政治过程通常都与华夏政权的国家意志和利益紧密相关。因此考察国家在这一过程中的能动角色,是解释南方社会历史命运的重要途径之一。

Among the great changes that took place in society, culture and politics in south China from the Han to the Tang dynasty, the most profound was the unprecedentedly rapid and extensive assimilation of various indigenous peoples, chiefly speakers of Miao and Yao languages, to the states in the Jiangnan area during the Six Dynasties. Most extant historical records on this subject deal with the so-called 'man' (蛮) peoples along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. A close study of the historical process by which these ethnic groups were integrated into these states reveals that over quite a long period all these groups, despite their extreme diversity, were faced with the choice between 'accepting and benefiting from assimilation' and 'remaining independent in the deepest mountains.' The result was that increasing numbers of indigenous groups were assimilated to the imperial political order. The process was a political one that was often closely related to the imperial regime’s interests and will. Therefore, an examination of the dynamic role played by the state in this process offers an important perspective on the historical fate of southern Chinese society.