王令传递与西周王权

The Transmission of King's Orders and the Kingship in Western Zhou Dynasty

王令传递主要指周王派遣臣属将其命令传递给命令接受者或执行者的过程,在西周文献中常常被称为“出纳王令”。据清华简《摄命》篇的记载,“出纳王令”包含王的命令下达和臣僚向王请示命令两个方面。周王对“出纳王令”事务的关注,突显了周王的权力意志及其在西周政治体系中的现实影响力。西周金文记载的有关案例表明,王令传递成为周王实现其权力意志的重要途径。不同时期的王令传递机制的差别,则反映了各时期的王权表现形态以及周王的应对方式。昭穆时期周王派遣史官传递王令,是王权强化的表现之一。厉宣时期史官、善夫受到信用,也反映出周王试图通过重用近臣来重振权威。王令传递的主要承担者,经历了由作册过渡到内史,最后到善夫和史官并用的变化,而西周王朝的职官制度也经历了相应的演变。王令传递机制的变迁对于王朝中枢的政治生态以及制度发展都产生了重要影响,成为西周政治文明演进的一个重要侧面。

The composition and manifestation of the kingship is a fundamental issue in the Shang and Zhou dynasties,and it is also a key clue to explore the evolution of China's early political civilization.Historical records indicate that the transmission of king's orders was highly valued by the kings of Western Zhou.The transmission of king's orders mainly refers to the process in which the King dispatched his subordinates to transmit his orders to the receiver or executor of the orders.It is often referred to as“sending or receiving orders from the King(出纳王令)”in Western Zhou literature.According to the bamboo slips document Sheming(摄命)collected by Tsinghua University,the transmission of king's orders includes two aspects:the issuance of king's orders and the request of the officials for instructions from the king.The King's attention to the transmission of his orders highlighted his will of power and its practical influence in the political system of the Western Zhou dynasty.The cases related to the transmission of king's orders recorded in the bronze inscriptions show that it has become an important way for the king to exert his power.The differences in the transmission mechanisms of king's orders in different periods reflect the different forms of kingship.The records in the early Western Zhou were mainly from the period of King Zhao.These cases reflected the king's attempt to strengthen control over various affairs of the dynasty.In middle Western Zhou period,the transmission of king's orders was mainly carried out according to institutional norms.However,the game between the king and ministers weakened the kingship.Therefore,the Kings attempted to revive their authority by appointing trustworthy close courtiers in late Western Zhou.Secretaries and chefs of the King became the main bearers,especially the chef who entered the center of political power.From an institutional perspective,the main bearers underwent a transition from Zuoce(作册)to Neishi(内史),and finally the secretary and chef.The official system also underwent corresponding evolution.During the early and middle stages of the Western Zhou,the King of Zhou's emphasis on the Neishi(内史)to some extent promoted the formation of the secretary system.In the late Western Zhou,the King's trust in the chefs transformed them from chamberlains to important roles of administration,thus creating new opportunities for the development of the official system.In short,the transmission of king's orders,as an expression of kingship,was an important part of the evolution of political civilization in the Western Zhou,which had a significant impact on the central political evolution and institutional development.