“并天下”:秦统一的历史定位与政治表述——以上古大一统帝王世系为背景

Conquering the World:Historical Position and Political Narrative of Qin's Unification of China:With Ancient Emperors' Genealogy as the Context

秦统一所确立的政治体制模式,以往习惯使用"大一统中央集权帝国"的表述。其实,儒家所尊的"大一统"指系之于一,不仅属于经学叙述,亦是逐渐建构的上古帝王世系下的历史叙述。"大一统"政治理念具有包容性:不但对应上古"天子—诸侯"政治模式,且涵盖秦的"皇帝—郡县"政治模式。秦的统一,包含对周室政治成就的承继。然秦并不满足于再现"一统",更远溯五帝,宣扬帝国成立所具有的跨越式、变革性政治成功。在上古史的发展脉络下,"并天下"而非"大一统",或许更能凸显秦统一的军事成就与帝国建立的政治伟绩。秦或许不曾想到,"承秦"而复称"并天下"的汉,在随后转而重视"一统"的政治表述,并将秦从"大一统"政治谱系中加以排除。

It is common to use the expression of ＂a grand unified and centralized empire＂ to define Qin＇s political system after its unification of China. However, the ＂Grand Unification＂ promoted by Confucianism, extends beyond a Confucius doctrine to a gradually constructed historical narrative in the context of ancient emperors＇ genealogy. The political ideology of ＂Grand Unification＂ is very encompassing., it not only corresponds to the ancient political mode of Emperor- Feudal Kings, but also covers the political mode of Emperor-County of the Qin dynasty. Although Qin inherited Zhou＇ s political achievements through unification, it didn＇t content itself with the ＂resurrecting unification＂ narrative but propagated the establishment of the empire as a revolutionary and leapfrogging political success. With reference to the sequence of ancient history, the phrase ＂Conquering the World＂, rather than ＂Grand Unification＂, might better highlight the military achievement of Qin~ s unification and the political feat of the establishment of the empire. Ironically, the Han dynasty,which inherited Qin^s political heritage and its ＂Conquering the World＂ narrative, returned back to the political expression of ＂Grand Unification＂, and excluded Qin from its political spectrum.