制馭部族：論耶律阿保機帝業的完成

Controlling Tribes: The Completion of Absolute Monarchy of Yelü Abaoji

伍伯常(Ng Pak-sheung)

《中國文化研究所學報》 新8期 (1999/01) Pp. 163-193

https://doi.org/10.29708/JCS.CUHK.199901_(8).0006

並列摘要

Illustrious family background was not a solid basis enabling Yelü Abaoji to become a great leader on grassland. Rather, his own abilities, together with the right of hereditary claim to be selected to certain offices gained by his ancestors, played a major role leading to his dominance in Qidan. As the prerequisites crucial to the completion of absolute monarchy patterned on Chinese style, Abaoji had put substantial effort to bring tribes under control and adopt Chinese way of administration after he came to power. The usefulness of Chinese way of administration was not merely confined to the inducement of Han people and the construction of Han cities, but also served as a source of guidance and competent officials needed for institutionalization of Han practice, namely centralization and class differentiation. By adopting the principle of suppression and separation, Abaoji was able to secure a complete control over the original tribes of Qidan and the tribes newly established with captives from various races. Definitely such measures were indispensable to the establishment of absolute monarchy, as it eradicated the tradition proved to be an obstacle to the fulfillment of his aim, particularly the selection of tribal leader among tribes. Highlighting monarchical power ceremonially was not the ultimate goal of Abaoji; what he was eager to achieve was institutional change insuring the succession to the throne to be monopolized by his descendents. Restricted by the actual situation, Abaoji had to give up the practice of primogeniture by assigning YeIü Deguang, his second son who was capable of winning support from tribal army by bravery and military abilities, to succeed to the throne. Conformity to reality was also shown by Abaoji 's reservation in adopting Chinese way of administration. To neutralize the negative effect of Chinese culture, only Chinese and a handful of Qidan officials and soldiers, due to the need of administration and garrison, were allowed to live in cities while tribesmen were ordered to keep their traditional and rustic lifestyle in wilderness. Under this policy, tribesmen would not be sapped of martial qualities; their military might needed to compete with China was thus preserved.