《东魏赫连明墓志》考释--兼论北朝至唐赫连氏的发展

Evolution of the Helian’s Family from Northern Dynasties to Tang Dynasty:A Textual Research on the Epitaph of Helian Ming in the Eastern Wei Dynasty

通过对《东魏赫连明墓志》的考释,结合多方赫连氏墓志,可以复原大夏灭亡后赫连氏在北朝至唐时期的发展状况。赫连昌反叛北魏后得到“大酋统主”这一形式上类似于领民酋长的称号,一方面是由于北魏对于赫连氏旧部的安抚,另一方面是因为不少赫连氏及其原属部族进入到了北魏政权之中。就仕宦而言,北朝赫连氏多能成为地方上之刺史、镇将,乃至魏帝近侍之臣。直至唐代,赫连氏开始衰落。以赫连山、赫连简兄弟为例,他们虽然参与了唐廷对抗突厥的战争,但战后仅获“论实在于胥吏以下”之勋官。至此,赫连氏往日的荣光已不复存在。

Through the textual research on the Epitaph of Helian Ming in the Eastern Wei Dynasty(《东魏赫连明墓志》)(534⁃550),and with reference to the epitaphs of the Helian’s in some other places,this paper restores the evolution of the Helian’s family from the Northern Dynasties(386⁃535)to the Tang Dynasty(618⁃907)after the fall of the Xia Kingdom(407⁃416).After his rebellion against the Northern Wei Dynasty(386⁃535),Helian Chang(赫连昌)got the title of“Da Qiu Tong Zhu”(“大酋统主”“the Grand Chieftain”),which is similar to a headman or the chief of a tribe.For one thing,the Northern Wei court would appease the Helian’s former subordinates,and for another,quite a number of Helian’s and their former subordinates entered the Northern Wei regime.In terms of official positions,the Helian’s in the Northern Dynasties were able to become provincial or prefectural governors,garrison commanders or generals,and even officials close to the Wei Emperors.The Helian’s began to decline in the Tang Dynasty.For example,the brothers of Helian Shan(赫连山)and Helian Jian(赫连简).Although they participated in the war of Tang Empire against the Turks,after the war,they were only conferred with titles for meritorious services,honorary titles“below petty officials in terms of real power.”At this point,Helian’s past glory has gone.