西周王位继承法再探析

The Analysis of the Succession System of the Western Zhou Dynasty

西周实行嫡长子继统法,是学界的普遍共识。但也有学者认为,西周初年周公并未创立嫡长子继承制,而是把先周时期的“兄终弟及”改变为“一继一及”制,直至春秋战国之交嫡长子继承制才正式确立。然细考史实,太王迁岐后,周邦继统法是立子以贤,直到武王卒后成王继位,周公摄政七年致政成王,终使嫡长子继承制成为全国施行的一项重要政治制度。立嫡制并不绝对排斥择立庶子,太子死或王后无嫡,即可择立庶子中的贵者或长者继位。同时,先王死后无子,制度上亦可兄终弟及,但逆制性的兄终弟及则是对法定继承制度的违忤与破坏。经过周公改制创立的更为完备的嫡长子继承制,在一定程度上起到了维护国家安定与发展的积极作用。

It is widely known that the succession of the eldest son by wife was practiced in the Western Zhou Dynasty.However,some scholars believe that in the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty,Zhou Gong did not establish the lineal primogeniture system and the succession to the throne was the alternation of son′s succession and brother′s succession.The succession of the eldest son was officially carried out at the turn of the Chun Qiu and Zhan Guo era.However,the historical facts show that after the Tai Wang migrated to Qi Shan,the state followed the rule of selecting the capable prince as the successor.When Cheng Wang succeed to the throne,Zhou Gong held the supreme power of the state.Seven years later,Zhou Gong returned the supreme power of the state to Cheng Wang,which marked the formal establishment of the lineal primogeniture system.The establishment of the lineal system did not absolutely exclude the selection of concubine′s children.If the crown prince died or the queen had no legitimate son,the noblest or the oldest of the concubine′s children could inherit the throne.If there were no sons after the death of the late king,the late king′s brother could inherit the throne institutionally.That the throne was passed from the older brother to the younger brother outside the system was destructive to the legal succession system.After the perfection of Zhou Gong,the succession of the eldest son by wife played a positive role in maintaining the stability and development of the Zhou Dynasty to a certain extent.