清代“冲繁疲难”制度再审视——以乾隆七年制度调整为中心

"冲繁疲难"制度,是清代订立的行政分等制度,学界已有论述。然随着档案史料的逐步挖掘,许多论断需要重新审视。首先,四要素与四等级之间共有五种对应关系,定制后的对应关系仅是其中的一种,非最合理者,惟专制政府以强制推行。其次,等级、要素之间关系复杂,要素内部又细分等级,二者的强行划一,使制度走向标准化、规范化的同时,亦致其趋于简单化、僵硬化。第三,缺分等级之调整,是主客观原因共同作用的结果,只是前者多隐晦不显,遮掩了真正的行为动机和权力诉求。

A Re-examination of the Chong-Fan-Pi-Nan Administrative Grading System in Qing Dynasty:The Case of System Adjustment in 1742

The Chong-Fan-Pi-Nan System administrative grading system was established in Qing Dynasty.Following the further excavation of historical archives,scholars need to reexamine many assertions about this system.First,there were f ive corresponding relationships between the four attributes and four grades.The customized corresponding relationship was just one of them,but not the most rational one that the autocratic government enforced.Second,owing to the complex relationship between grades and attributes,and the subdivision of the attributes into different grades,the imperial court forced a unity among the relationships that tended to standardize the relationship and simultaneously make the system simple and inflexible.Third,the adjustment of def icient grade was the result of a combination of objective and subjective reasons.The subjective reasons were more obscure and easily omitted,thus concealing the real motivation for the conduct and power claims.