南宋使臣使金“觇国”职能考论

On the Functions of the Southern Song Dynasty's Envoys to the Jin Dynasty for Investigating the State of the Enemy

宋金对峙时期,宋金双方沿袭交聘制度,互遣使臣。除常使外,南宋还因临时之需大量向金国派遣泛使。除协调两国关系、维护友好邦交之礼仪目的外,南宋使臣还负有“觇国”即打探敌情的任务。南宋使臣“觇国”之职能,是对古代行人制度的延续,又具有一定的时代特征,表现出“求和”与“求战”的不同目的。南宋使臣使金“觇国”对于了解对方情状并最终维护两国和好、促成百余年南北共治局面起到了积极作用。南宋使臣使金“觇国”的政治职能,使其文学写作带上了独特的“觇国”视角,成为我们探讨使金文学的又一窗口。

During the Song-Jin confrontation period,both sides followed the system of sending envoys to each other.In addition to the regular envoys,the Southern Song Dynasty also sent a large number of general envoys to the Jin Dynasty due to temporary needs.In addition to coordinating the relationship between the two countries and maintaining the etiquette of friendly relations,the Southern Song envoys also had the task of investigating the state of the enemy.The function of the Southern Song envoys in investigating the state of the Jin Dynasty was a continuation of the ancient messenger system,and also had certain characteristics of the times,reflecting different purposes of"seeking peace"and"seeking war."The political functions of Southern Song envoys to the Jin Dynasty gave their literary works a unique"state-investigation" perspective,which became another window for us to explore their literary works.