东汉顺帝“八使”巡行事件始末

The Beginning and End of the Eight Legates Inspecting in Han Shundi Period

东汉顺帝汉安元年的"八使"巡行郡国事件,是研究汉代"风俗使"制度时不可多得的个案。"八使"出巡,是在当时吏治松弛、监察制度濒于失效的背景下出台的。良好的儒学修养、丰富的从政经验、清正耿直的个人品性、忠公无畏的职业操守以及由此形成的个人威望,是入选"八使"的重要条件。为便于履行使命,顺帝授予"八使"光禄大夫头衔和举劾地方官吏的特权。"八使"在"劾奏贪猾"方面的表现引人注目,其吏治整顿效果不容忽视。"风俗使"出巡郡国虽为"善政",但在实际运作过程中存在着诸多困难。担任皇帝特使的经历,对"风俗使"个人的命运、前途均有影响。

In the first year of Hanan, Emperor Shundi of the Eastern Han Dynasty sent eight legates to inspect the country. This history event should be the important case for us to study the Legate of Custom of the Han Dynasty. The reason of the mission lies in the relaxation of administration and the invalidation of the supervisory system. Only those who had better accomplishment of Confucianism, richer political experience, better personal morality and higher prestige can be chosen as the legate. In order to fulfill the mission, the Emperor awarded them the title of Guangludafu and privileges for impeach the local officials. The eight legates had got great achievements in the field of punishing corrupt officials and had got high appraisal. Although legate inspecting was a good policy, there were many difficulties in the actual operation of the policy. The experience as the emperor envoy had influenced both their personal destiny and their official career.