宋代的文官掌军制度及其效应

The System of Civil Officials Commanding the Military and Its Effects in the Song Dynasty

宋代首创的文官掌军制度,是在宋初汲取历史教训并强化管控将帅规则的基础上逐渐形成的,也是宋真宗朝以来士大夫主政的产物。其立意在于求稳,其特点是以文驭武,其宗旨则是防范军事将领危害国家乃至反噬政权。这项制度存在着双刃剑的效应,一方面降低了军事效能,致使边防陷于不利的境地;另一方面又有助于维护统治秩序与文治路线的稳定,客观上有利于社会经济、文教的持续发展。从世界文明进程的视野考察,这项早熟的制度与西方近现代国家有类似之处,具有制度创新的历史意义。

The system of civil officials commanding the military,first established in the Song,took shape on two basic planks.Having learned the lessons of history,the early Song dynasty strengthened its control over generals and commanders,and beginning in the Zhenzong reign,scholar-officials dominated state administration.The new system,designed to seek stability,was marked by civil officers managing the military;its purpose was to prevent military generals from endangering the state and even turning against the regime.It was a double-edged sword;on the one hand,it reduced the effectiveness of the military and jeopardized the borders;on the other,it helped maintain the stability of the ruling order and of civilian rule,and thus objectively contributed to sustainable social,economic,cultural and educational development.From the perspective of the course of world civilization,this precocious system was similar to those in modern Western countries.As an institutional innovation,it is historically significant.