明代“九边”镇守内官职责分析

An Analysis of the Function of the Eunuch Officials in the Nine Borders of the Ming Dynasty

明代镇守内官最初在明仁宗即位后设于甘肃等边,其后各边逐渐设置,嘉靖时期曾全部裁撤。到天启、崇祯时,由于后金崛起,辽东局势日益紧张,部分边镇镇守内官短暂存在。以往,内官在边常常被简单地认为是监军。事实上,内官镇守各边,肩负着多方面的责任。他们与军政的关系非常密切,需要与其他文武官员会商军政大事,也参预边镇官员的保留与升迁,还负责各边外交使臣进贡事宜。他们的存在对各边产生了深刻而复杂的影响。

The Eunuch officials of the Ming Dynasty were initially posted to guard the frontier of Gansu after the enthronization of Emperor Renzong. Afterwards, this system had been established at other borders. Till the Jiajing period, these officials were once displaced completely; Due to the tense situation in Liaodong, however, this system had been restored for a moment again. The Eunuch officials on the frontier were often considered as military supervisors in the past study. Actually, they shouldered many responsibilities and had close relationship with military and politics. They often participated in military and political discussion and official retentions and promotions, sometimes diplomatic attributing issues. This system had a great impact on the borders.