两汉时期的太子宫

A Look at the Prince’s Palace of the Han Dynasties

西汉太子幼时居皇帝后宫,成年行冠礼后入太子宫,加冠年龄受政治因素的影响很大,但一般在15—20岁之间,这是由社会环境与政治需要决定的。太子与父母分居后成立单独的家庭群体,称“太子家”,包括其妻妾儿女、家中的官吏与护卫、服侍人员。太子宫内见于记载的建筑有甲观、画堂、丙殿和后堂。西汉太子宫的位置可能是在京师长安的长乐宫内,附属建筑先后有思贤苑、博望苑,后者在长安城覆盎门外。东汉太子宫始称东宫,太子或未加冠即入宫居住,顺帝时太子居北宫内承光宫,由中傅或宦官监护。太子宫的出现与辅导监护皇统继承人的制度密切相关,对维系皇权和巩固统治起重要作用。

A prince in the Western Han Dynasty normally dwelled in the emperors’ harem when he was young. He then entered the Prince’s Palace after the crowning ceremony signifying his passage into adulthood. The crowning took place between ages 16-20 in accordance with social circumstances and political needs, after which the prince lived independent from his parents to form a separate family dubbed the “Prince’s Family”, whose members included his wives, concubines and children, the officials and guards of the family, as well as the service staff. According to historical records, typical architectures that constitute the Prince’s Palace are Jiaguan (primary residence), Huatang (painting hall), Bingdian (side chamber) and Houtang (rear hall). The Prince’s Palace complex in the Western Han Dynasty may well be located within the Changle Palace in the capital city of Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an). The ancillary buildings include Sixianyuan and Bowangyuan, of which the latter is outside the Fu’ang Gate. On the contrary, the Prince’s Palace of the Eastern Han Dynasty was originally referred to as the East Palace, in which the prince lived even perhaps before crowning or adulthood. During Emperor Shun’s reign, the prince resided in the Chengguang Palace within the North Palace, receiving tutelage and protection from a mid-ranking official titled Zhongfu (medium-grade preceptor) or from the eunuchs.