“官吏之别”及“官吏关系”的若干历史问题

The Difference and Connection between “Guan” and “Li”

本文着眼于中国古代"官"、"吏"区别及其相互关系的基本面貌,讨论了在将此视为当今基层公务人员履职和生存状态的某种渊源时需要注意的一些问题。文中指出:魏晋以来官、吏关系的发展,集中表现为"一个过渡区间的两次重要变迁";从中可见历代"官"、"吏"界线具有较大幅宽和弹性,又为区别化管理划出了必要边界。其总趋势则是两者从身份鸿沟深刻走向界线松弛,并通过以往吏职成批上升为官职和确保吏员上升为官之途,不断加强了其间的相通性。这就使明清吏员的生态,仍在朝廷统官而官员统吏的框架下呈现了可控性,具有区别、限制和上升、流动相互衔接、协调的一系列特点。总之古、今基层公务人员之况既有可比之处,又因时代和体制有别,使相似的问题有着不同的症结和解决途径。

This paper focuses on the difference and connection between ＂guan＂（official）and＂li＂（staff）in imperial China,a system that by some is regarded as the precedent of the modern day Chinese bureaucracy.Since Wei and Jin dynasty,the relationship between guan and li experienced two important transitional changes because of the complexity of compatibility between official ranks and social statuses and the subsequent issues in personnel management.The boundary line between＂guan＂and ＂li＂helped differentiate appointments,responsibilities,ranks and salaries but remained broad and elastic.The overall development was the ever deepening status division between the two groups while the boundary line became increasingly open ended.By allowing＂li＂to be promoted to ＂guan,＂the central authority not just expanded governmental function but helped strengthen the bond between＂guan＂and＂li,＂reflecting an important link between the centralized rule and its relatively open bureaucratic structure.Up until Ming and Qing,this framework of the central government controlling＂guan＂and＂guan＂controlling＂li＂proved to be a stable structure.Under this structure,＂li＂was looked down upon by＂guan＂but it still enjoyed higher status than commoners.Although some of the issues and predicaments experienced by ＂li＂in history can also be said about today＇s staff in Chinese modern bureaucracy, they are from different times and under different circumstances.Solutions to the problems,especially like reassignment and mobility,will be quite different as well.