北宋马匹贡赐体系述略

Horses Politics: Horses Tribute and Reward System in the Northern Song Dynasty

马匹作为北宋王朝的特殊贡赐物,其贡赐体系可分为北宋君主—臣民马匹贡赐体系和北宋—周边政权马匹贡赐体系。马匹在这两大体系中都起着重要作用:臣民给君主上贡马匹表达自己的忠心,君主通过赏赐马匹向臣民传递恩宠;北宋通过赐马给周边政权表示对其的认可,周边政权通过给北宋上贡马匹表达自己对朝廷的友好或归顺之心。马匹作为贡赐物在君主、臣民及朝廷、周边政权之间的流通维护北宋马匹贡赐体系的正常运行,北宋马匹贡赐体系的运行促进了北宋政治秩序的构建和稳定。

Horse was a special tribute and reward in the Northern Song Dynasty.The horse tribute and reward system of the Northern Song Dynasty can be divided into two types:the system about emperors and subjects,the system about the court and the surrounding countries.Horses played an important role in both systems.The subjects expressed their loyalty to emperors by paying horses,while emperors showed the favor to the subjects by rewarding horses.The Northern Song Dynasty court expressed its recognition to the surrounding countries by giving horses,and the surrounding countries expressed their friendship or submission to the Northern Song Dynasty court by paying horses.As tributes and rewards,horses circulated among emperors,subjects,the Northern Song Dynasty court and the surrounding countries.It maintained the normal operation of the horse tribute and reward system in the Northern Song Dynasty,and also promoted the construction and stability of the political order of the Northern Song Dynasty court.