“宋之厚也”:宋初降王待遇考

"Leniency in the Song Dynasty":a study on the treatment of surrendered kings in the early Song Dynasty

在征服地方的过程中,如何处理亡国政权君主成为北宋皇帝亟待解决的问题。宋初降王的生命安全基本被保障,除李煜因个人言行被宋太宗戕害致死外,其余七位降王都得以善终。降王归顺后丧失了君王身份,其人身自由虽然受到限制,但仍享有远高于常人的政治待遇。降王能够保留的原有财产数量多寡与他们的归顺方式息息相关。降王不仅可以凭借自身官职领取俸禄,而且受到皇帝额外的物质照顾,大部分降王归宋后比较富有。北宋优处降王,彰显了天水一朝宽厚的社会风气。

This paper examines how the two emperors of the early Northern Song Dynasty treated the surrendered kings who had lost their regime after being conquered. The following are the findings. First, these conquered kings were ensured of a safe life. Seven out of the eight who surrendered ended up well except Li Yu, the former king of the Southern Tang Dynasty, who was killed by Emperor Taizong of Song for his recklessness. Second, though deprived of their thrones and personal freedom restricted, these kings could still enjoy a much higher political treatment than ordinary people after pledging allegiance. Third, the amount of their original wealth that they could keep depends on their way of submission. Fourth, most of these kings could enjoy a wealthy life because they could receive not only salary as officials in the Song Dynasty, but also extra rewards from the Song Emperors. In the end, the paper argues that such tolerant and preferential treatment for the defeated kings demonstrated the lenient and generous social atmosphere of China′s Song Dynasty.