西晋左民曹职品考述

Textual Research on the Zhipin of Zuo Min Cao in the Western Jin Dynasty

学界一般认为,西晋官员刘卞试经后担任的“台四品吏”就是八品的尚书令史,被降资品后则任九品的尚书令史,但《初学记》的记载提供了另一种解读的可能。经考证可见,左民曹主掌户籍与谱牒,左民令史则从属于左民曹,执掌内容一致。从现有材料来看,刘卞试经后所任“台四品吏”既有可能是六品的尚书郎,也有可能是六品的尚书左右丞、尚书都令史或者七品的尚书典事;刘卞“下品二等”后担任的“左民令史”,很有可能就是《通典·晋官品》所载八品的“主谱令史”。

It is generally accepted in the academic community that after being demoted,the position held by the Western Jin official Liu Bian ranked ninth in the Nine-rank system.But the record in Chucueji on Liu Bian's being appointed as Zuomin Ling Shi after his demotion,provides us with another interpretation.Through textual research,it is found that Zuomin Ling Shi were a subset of Shangshu Ling Shi,reporting to Zuo Min Cao's main officer at Shangshu Tai,or the Secretariat.Zuo Min Cao's duty changed from oversecing construction to controlling houschold registration and concurrently managing construction affairs from the Han dynasty to the Western Jin Dynasty.Viewing from the available information,the position held by Liu Bian before his demotion-Tai Sipin Li was likely to be Shangshu Lang,which ranked sixth,or Shangshu Zuo You Cheng and Shangshu Du Ling Shi(Shangshu's assistant or deputy for administrative matters),which also ranked sixth,or even Shangshu Dianshi,which ranked seventh.After demotion,he served as Zuomin Ling Shi.Based on the obligations of his post,there is a high possibility that it is the eighth-ranking position Zhupu Lingshi recorded in Tongdian:Jin Guanpin.