略论西周到春秋聘礼赠贿风气之演变

On the Evolution of the Practice of "Pinli" and "Zenghui" from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period

“礼尚往来”一直是古代社会交往的基本原则。先秦时期,在国与国的聘礼交往中,宾国要向主国赠送礼品,主国也须向来聘者回赠等价的“贿”,两国有赠有报,有来有往,施报平衡。此外,在聘礼中,贵族更重礼义、轻物质。西周时,诸侯之间、诸侯与王室的交聘往来是外交活动的重要环节,体现礼尚往来的对等性原则。但进入春秋时期,天子式微,大国争霸,小国图存,礼制陵夷,聘问与赠贿成为一种纯粹的政治军事手段和一种以获利为目的的外交活动。天子以重贿讨好诸侯,小国借聘问逢迎霸主,最终聘贿演变为贡赋的局面。

That"courtesy demands reciprocity"was the basic diplomatic principle of communications in ancient times.During pre-Qin period,countries interacted with"Pinli"(a kind of diplomatic action by sending messengers among the King and lords in the Zhou Dynasty).The guest gave gifts to the host and the host gave back the equal"Hui"to the guest.The relationship between them is reciprocal,complementary and balancing.During the implementation of"Pinli",the nobles place more emphasis on rituals than on materials.In the Western Zhou dynasty,the diplomatic action between the lord and the King or the lords themselves is of vital importance in diplomacy,demonstrating the ritual of"courtesy demands reciprocity".During the Spring and Autumn Period,the royal declined and the set of etiquette deteriorated,along with the great powers contending for hegemony and the others striving for survival.Therefore,"Pinli"and"Zenghui"became a pure kind of political and military maneuver,as well as a pragmatic diplomacy for satisfying diverse parties’own interests.The King flattered the lords with great gifts while the lords turned to the emperor for help with"Pinli",for which‘Pinli’eventually developed into tribute.