從東漢政權實質論其時帝室婚姻嗣續與外戚升降之關係

A DISCUSSION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROYAL MARRIAGE AND SUCCESSION AND THE RISE AND FALL OF THE IMPERIAL IN-LAWS IN TERMS OF THE NATURE OF THE POLITICAL POWER OF EASTERN HAN

李學銘(Lee Hok-ming)

《新亞學報》 9卷2期 (1970/09) Pp. 225-282+ap9

並列摘要

That the imperial in-laws of the royal family of Eastern Han exercised an usurpation of political power is a fact universally known. Two reasons prompted me to write on the present topic: (1) Though writings to explain the rise and fall of the in-laws in terms of the royal marriage and succession are many, it seems to me that hardly any originality or in-sight can be discerned among them. (2) Whether the rise and fall of the in-laws was affected also by the rise and fall of their relations, the number of successors avaible to the deceased king and the much respect ascribed to the maternal uncles of the time have not yet been discussed by former scholars. The conclusions of the present article are as follows: (a) The political power of Eastern Han was founded on the powerful families. The relationship thereof was maintained through marriage. From the royal family's point of view, it was a means to gain support, whereas from the powerful families's a means to control the royal court. (b) The rise or fall of the royal in-laws of Eastern Han brought honor relations whether by blood or by marriage. Whenever there was a rival for power, support for the involved parties could be expected from relations on the mother's side, the wife's and their followers's. (c) The actual control of power was subject to change of the in-laws. Power waxe and wane in accordance with the settlement of succession which was often decided by the struggles between the concubines of the late king and their respective relations. (d) The Eastern Han rulers had no sons to succeed them. The adoption of a heirs outside direct line of the royal family was prevalent. The practice was caused by the ambition of the in-laws to consolidate their power and the jealousy of the queen. That the Eastern Han kings died leaving few heirs or none to all is said to be pre-destined according to the author of the ＂Notes on Chinese History＂ (廿二史剳記). Such a statement is purely unfounded in the writer's opinion. (c) Throughout the Eastern Han dynasty, the maternal uncles were very much respected. This does not suffice to prove the existence of a maternal society, but to have access to the royal power was certainly facilitated by the fact.