宋代地方官府胥吏再探:以官民沟通为中心

Further Exploration of the Clerks in the Local Government on the Communication During the Song Dynasty

宋代地方官府中的胥吏是官府事务运行的基础,是活跃在地方官周边的重要人群,同时也是地方官府与民众沟通联系的重要媒介。北宋中期随着役法的变革,地方官府的胥吏逐渐专职化,从而成为地方政治中相对独立的新力量。他们凭借其介于官民之间的身份特征,以及熟悉官府事务、条法,及在信息沟通过程中的中介位置,不但控制着官府的文书运行过程,基层的各种信息都要经过其手方能为地方官获悉,同时还影响到朝廷、官府政令的传布过程,在地方官与民众之间往往能左右逢源,既为地方官所依赖,也是地方豪强积极笼络的对象。地方官对胥吏既有依赖的一面,同时也不断试图对胥吏加以约束,防止其对信息渠道的垄断、阻滞。

The clerks were the important groups. They were active around the local officials who became the intermediaries between the officials and the people. They constituted the understructure of the local government. From the mid-term of the Northern Song, the clerks＇ professionalization became more prominent which made them the new influence in the local politics. The clerks were familiar with the routine and affairs of the local government. They held the communication between the officials and the people through the documents and the positions. At the same time, the clerks came from the people and contacted with the people. Consequently they were drawn over to the local upper levels. And the local officials were dependent on them, and kept them within bounds which avoided their domination of the communication between the officials and the people.