西汉侯国官制考述

The Discussion of the Marquis County's Civil Service System of Xihan Dynasty

汉代列侯分为功臣侯、王子侯和外戚侯三种。汉初 ,列侯“掌治其国”,得以“自置吏 ,得赋敛”。武帝时 ,“改所食国令长曰相”,侯国别属汉郡。西汉侯国官制由此发生了质变。侯国存在着以相 (令长 )为核心的地方行政系统和以侯家丞为中心的家吏系统。汉初两个系统的设官 ,除侯国令长外 ,余皆归列侯任免。西汉中后期 ,侯国官制发生了根本性的变化。侯国系统中二百石及其以上的相、丞、尉和家吏系统中比三百石的侯家丞 ,按汉法当由中央任命 ;侯国系统中相、丞、尉之佐吏和家吏中的仆、行人、门大夫当为百石吏 ,由郡一级统一调配无疑。这从《尹湾汉简》

During the whole Xihan Dynasty, there always existed the two provincially official systems in the marquis counties. One was the provincial government system, the other was servants for marquises.Originally, both the provincial government officials and the servants were dominated by the marquises, departing from the county magistrates. However, during the late time, the civil service system of Xihan Dynasty changed remarkably. According to Xihan laws and orders, county magistrates as well as other associated officials whose official grades at least 200 Dans and the marquis' servants who earning no less then 300 Dans were obviously nominated by the central government; Others whose official ranks were at or below 100 dans were appointed by the prefecture and marquis respectively, which can be exactly testified by the archaeology data from 'Yin Wan Han Dynasty Tombs'.