社会变迁与身份变异:先秦时期“余子”问题考辨

Social Change and Identity Variation: Discussion about the Identity of yuzi in Early Qin

"余子"自首见于《逸周书》以来,历代学者对其已形成了四种不同的解释,有"卿大夫庶子说""羡卒说""士庶子说""未任役者说"。检视此四种说法,发现均有一定的缺陷。实际上余子的身份有一个不断变迁的过程。春秋战国时代社会结构的变迁,使余子处于急剧变化的中心,其中少数俊秀者,上升为高层贵族,更多的是或参军服役,死于战场,或沦落为庶民、奴隶,姓氏、事迹均湮没无闻。

Since yuzi first appearing in Yi Zhou Shu, scholars from different dynasties have formed four different interpretations,which have some shortcomings. The identity of yuzi has an ever-changing process. In the Spring and Autumn period,few outstanding ones became senior nobility,while the majority served in the army and died,or became common people,even slaves,so they became nameless.