“西域”名义考

Textual Research on the Use of the Western Regions

"西域"名号的使用,在《史记》中已经有所反映。以为"西域""始见于《汉书.西域传》"或者"得名于西汉宣帝时期"的说法是不准确的。匈奴早期在对"西域"地方的控制中据有优势地位。于是有"匈奴西域"的方位代号,史称"皆在匈奴之西"。汉武帝时代汉与匈奴的实力对比扭转之后,汉帝国的"西域""阨以玉门﹑阳关"。以为"西域"就是"西国"的认识,是有历史依据的。汉代文献可见所谓"西域"、"东域"、"北域"、"南域",都是指民族结构成分复杂,中原文化影响薄弱,中央政权行政力量已经介入,却不能有效全面地施行控制的边远地方。徐松以所谓"界中国之西"理解"西域"名义的准确内涵,可能是比较合理的。由此对于汉王朝与"西域"的外交关系和军事关系,汉王朝与西北的边疆问题和民族问题,才可以获得接近历史真实的认识。

The use of the name Western Regions appeared in the Historical Records. The argument that Xiyuzhuan of Hou Han Shu firstly mentioned the Western Regions or it was nominated during the reign of Hsan-ti,which is not accurate. The Hsiung-nu took the advantage in the control of the Western Regions in its early time. So the position words of the Western Regions came into being. The Western Regions of the Han Empire Yumen,Yangguan was made as the frontier fortresses since the contrast of strength between the Han empire and Hsiung-nu reversed in the reign of Wu-ti. So we could get the recognition of the approach to historical truth on the diplomatic and military relations between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions,and the questions of borderland and ethnic groups in the northwest of the Han Empire.