先秦社会最高权力的变迁及其影响因素

The Transition of Supreme Power in Pre-Qin Society and Its Determinants

先秦社会的最高权力起初以"神主"的面貌出现。夏商之"王"虽是社会最高权力的实际掌控者,却受到神灵世界的束缚。周天子挟"天命"以令诸侯,王权虽然增强,但被牢笼于宗法与分封制度之下。随着宗法分封制度颓坏,春秋战国时期各国君主手中的权力远胜于前,民众亦形成有影响的社会力量,"民本"理念成为当时先进思想家与有识之士的共识,各国君主亦以"民本"为君权张目。专制君权在战国后期方粗具规模。先秦社会最高权力由弱而强的演变之路,即渐次摆脱神权束缚、制度牢笼和民众舆论羁绊的过程。

The supreme power in pre-Qin society was presumably bestowed upon by the 'Mandate of Heaven.' Xia and Shang 'kings' held supreme power,but were restrained by the spirit world.The Zhou rulers could give orders to the feudal lords on the basis of the 'Mandate of Heaven,' but although they had strong powers,they were still restrained by the patriarchal clan system and the system of enfeoffment.As both gave way,the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods saw a great increase in the rulers' power,as well the rise of the influence of the common people as a social force.The idea of 'putting people first' became a consensus among advanced thinkers and discerning scholars,and the rulers of the various states had their eyes opened to 'putting people first.' Autocratic monarchical power first took shape in the late Warring States period.The evolution of supreme power in pre-Qin society,from a weak to a strong force,was a process of successively breaking away from religious authority,institutional restraints,and the fetters of public opinion.