明代中期の外戚、張氏兄弟

Abstract

From the point of view of the position within the regime, the imperial consort of Ming didn't play an important role so much. But the distinguished Imperial relatives (xunqi 勳戚), eunuchs and imperial families etc., which ought to live on an annual allowance primarily, were parasitic on the production of goods and the monetary economy, which developed especially in economically advanced districts. As a result the great confusion were aroused in society and economy. In this article I try to describe the political history first, that Zhangshi, the empress of Xiaozong 孝宗, kept her influence during Hongzhi 弘治, Zhengde 正徳 and the early years of Jiajing 嘉靖. And I analyse their own way of securing the source from the aspects of estate, commercial tax and salt, which her brothers (Zhang Heling 張鶴齡 and Zhang Yanling 張延齡) took by making use of the opportunity. Its character is that dividing the possession of the state, they established their own organization of exploitation, and controlled Jiaren 家人 stratum (wulai 無頼, landlords, merchants, etc.), who were parasitic on it. But once they lost their support in the court, most of imperial consort fell rapidly. Their foundation of power was uncertain.