年龄的迷宫——清人年龄研究中的几个问题

The Labyrinth of Age--Several Problems in the Study of Qing Peoples’Age

清人年龄问题非常复杂,既有官年与实年之别,又有因传闻、传抄、版刻、校对、推算等方面不确、不慎而造就的错误;即使是来自本人自述或来自亲友的讣告、碑志、行状、家传、家谱等材料,也不尽可靠;至于正史、地方志及其他人物传记中所载,由于多来自该人物家族提供的行状、墓志、家传等,文献已经二次传抄,致误概率更大。欲研治清人年龄乃至古人年龄,有四个方面需要注意:一是明确文献优先等级;二是善于利用参照系;三是掌握古人一些特殊的年龄表达习惯;四是多闻阙疑。

The issue of Qing Peoples’age is very complicated,which includes not only the difference between the age reported to the government and actual age,but also the imprudent mistakes caused by hearsay,transcriptions,engravings,proofreading,calculation and so on.Even the materials from their own statements or from relatives and friends of the obituary,epitaph,details of his life,family biography,genealogy are not always reliable.As for the official history written in biographical style,local chronicles and other biographies,due to the characters from the family provided by the details of his life,epitaph,family biography,documents have been copied twice,resulting in a greater probability of error.In order to study the age of the Qing Dynasty and even the age of the ancient people,there are four aspects should be stressed:First,make clear the priority level of documents;second,make good use of the reference system;third,master some special age expression habits of the ancient people;fourth,always remain modest and prudent.