春秋战国“舆人”辨正

A Textual Study of the Yuren in the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periodss

先秦文献中的舆人有二义,均可从"舆"的字源上找到依据,均非作为一个阶层而存在。其一,由从事农业的庶人阶层中征发而来的夫役。这是具有临时性的身份,战时主要负责搬运车舆,亦可参与军事性伪装,平时从事筑城、抬棺等,春秋时期各诸侯国多有舆的编制。舆人在参与某些劳作时归由皂管辖,在职务等级上低于皂而高于隶,但这并不意味着该人群本身的社会地位也低于皂。其二,特指造车箱的工人。

Yuren( 舆人) in ancient Chinese literatures refers to two categories of people. One of them is temporary conscripted labors from the commoners serving in military activities or other occasions. Commonly existing in all states during the Spring and Autumn Period, these people were usually administrated under yuwei( 舆尉). In terms of the social status, they were the same as zao( 皂) although their position in service was slightly lower than zao and higher than li( 隶). The second meaning of yuren refers to the carriage box making artisans, which frequently appeared in recorded history of the Warring States Period.