西汉太常郡新探

A New Exploration of Taichang Prefecture in the Western Han Dynasty

西汉太常郡一度为实体郡级行政区,已经被传世文献、考古资料和出土文献所证实。太常郡下辖的11个陵县构成了它的郡级行政区的边界,但郡界因为陵县的设置或废除而发生变化,呈现与其他普通郡不一样的特征。作为郡级行政区,太常郡具备其他郡级行政区的一切职能,但另一方面由于太常又是中央九卿之一,所以随着徙民实陵掌控人口任务的完成,太常郡作为郡级行政区的功能已无存在的必要,遂导致废除太常郡,而将其所属陵县分属三辅这个最后结局。太常废郡而专司中央机关事务,又是中国古代职官制度日趋完善的结果和反映。

Taichang Prefecture was once a physical prefecture-level administrative region in the Western Han Dynasty, which has been confirmed by heirloom documents, archaeological sources, and excavated literature.The eleven Ling counties under the jurisdiction of Taichang Prefecture constituted the boundaries of its prefecture-level administration, but the prefecture boundaries changed due to the establishment or abolition of the ling counties, presenting characteristics different from those of other ordinary prefectures. As a prefecture-level administrative region, Taichang Prefecture had all the functions of others. On the other hand, since the task of migrating people to control the population of Lings was completed, Taichang Prefecture, as one of the nine central ministers, was no longer necessary to exist as a prefecture-level administrative region, which led to its abolition and the division of its counties into three auxiliaries. After the abolition, Taichang prefecture was responsible for the affairs of the central government, which was the result and reflection of the growing sophistication of the ancient Chinese official system.