宋代的交通形势与制度

The Situation and System of Transport in the Song Dynasty

从整体上看,宋代交通重心先是东移,继而南移,并形成以京城为中心、连接边防重地的物资运输网络,以及偏重海上的对外交通形势,是国际政治格局与宋朝内部诸因素联动的结果。其中,受募兵制及军事驻防形势制约的财政需求,又导致征商规模的扩大,从而促进内外商业交通的发展,而这一需求,又正与欧亚国际局势,特别是十字军东征事件相因应,使宋朝出现空前的海上交通与贸易发达的局面。与此同时,国际国内复杂的形势,又导致宋代在中国历史上空前的信息沟通需求和信息增量。为控制庞大的信息流通,宋代因而出现了前所未有的多种信息渠道和新的信息传递制度。其中最为突出的是驿传制度的新格局、传递人员军事化,及允许官员私书利用驿传传送等。内外联动视野下,不仅可以显现宋代交通的整体形势和制度特征的深层次动因,同样可以看到宋代交通发展的历史实态。宋代交通管理的制度保守性及地区之差异,同样可见内外因素联动之影响。

Overall,the center of Song transport shifted first eastward and then southward,forming a transport network centered on the capital city and reaching to the strategic border areas.This,along with a preference for maritime transport in dealing with overseas countries,was the result of the joint action of the international political situation and the internal factors of the Song dynasty.Song financial needs,under pressure from the military recruitment system and military garrisons,led to increased merchant levies,thus promoting the development of internal and external commercial transport.This corresponded to the international situation in Europe and Asia,especially the Crusades,and led to the unprecedented development of maritime transport and trade.At the same time,the complex international and domestic situation led to a demand for and increase in the communication of information unprecedented in Chinese history.In order to control this massive information flow,a hitherto unseen variety of information channels and new information transmission systems emerged in the Song dynasty.The most striking were the new arrangements for the postal system,the militarization of messengers,and the permission for officials to use postal messengers to transmit private letters.These internal and external linkages reveal not only the deep-seated motives behind the overall situation and institutional characteristics of Song transport,but also the historical reality of its development.The conservative nature of the system and the regional differences in Song transport management can also be seen as the outcome of the interaction of internal and external factors.