戰國時期士的功能分類研究

On the Functional Classification of the Shi Class During the Warring States Period

柯德仁(Te-Jen Ko)

《中原學報》 31卷4期 (2003/12) Pp. 367-389

https://doi.org/10.6358/JCYU.200312.0008

摘要

春秋戰國之間社會發生重大變化。戰爭頻仍、政治變幻、經濟繁榮與文化發展，不斷提高社會對能力與成就的要求與評價，社會流動大為活躍，平民獲得遠比以前更多的學習和應用知識技能的機會，而貴族階級的身份卻漸趨衰微，這種社會的變遷使「士」的涵義發生了變化。春秋後期「士」一類語辭的身份意味日益淡薄，而漸漸強調其「道藝」的一面。時至戰國，幾乎凡有一德一藝者皆可稱為「士」，與春秋以前的「士」已大異其趣。它們強調的是以道藝分類，而不是以身份分類，既然以道藝分類，其稱謂自然繁多，成份也比較複雜。從早期作為部族成員而兼事耕戰的、性質單純的「士」，到此時形形色色、各擅一長的「士」，從「士」皆有道藝，而到有道藝者皆為「士」，其間經歷了漫長的分化。經由謀生求食與發展自我之途徑，「士」的職能已大為多樣化、專門化了。由於戰國時代士的功能特別重要，因此，謹就戰國時期士的功能分類，稍作初步的探討。

關鍵字

戰國 ； 士 ； 功能分類

並列摘要

During the period between Chun Qiu (Spring and Autumn, 722-464 BCE) and Zhan Guo (Warring States, 463-222 BCE) eras, society had undergone dramatic and tremendous changes. The frequency of wars, the intensity of the struggles for power among the feudal states, economic progress, and ideological evolution were so interwoven which contributed to the reshaping of Chinese society. A society based on fixed kinship ties to maintain social stratification in terms of heredity in Spring and Autumn period gradually broke down. Hence, a system of contractual relationships began to emerge in the Warring States period, in which individual men moved upward and downward as a result of their own abilities and actions leveled up by social demand. In other words, freer social mobility developed. While social status of the aristocratic class was beginning to decline, the commoners from the lower strata of the society had acquired even more chances than the previous time of learning and putting it into actual practice. In such a transitional period, the concept of Shi class evolved a different meaning. During the latter part of Spring and Autumn period, the implication of Shi class as a group based on their social status gradually toned down. In its place, the rise of respect for ability and personal worth, coincided with the development of the moral code of being conversant with basic Confucian learning and self-respect, was adapted to the members of the new Shi class during the Warring States period. The Shi class was still the lowest order of the ruling group, usually functionaries in various positions, but they now differed from their Chun Qiu predecessors. With the emphasis on the functional classification of the Shi class based on competence and virtue, Zhan Guo period witnessed the variety, the enlargement, the specialization, and the growing influence of the Shi class.

並列關鍵字

Warring States (Zhan Guo) period ； Shi class(the literati) ； functional classification