<論説>前漢刺史の性格について

Abstract

本稿では、刺史の職務について、それが行政的職能と監察的職能という二重の性格をあわせ持っていたことを検討した。刺史は純然たる地方行政官吏ではないのにもかかわらず、行政的職能の一部分を構成する行政監督権を保持していたのである。これまでの通説的理解においては、この行政監督権を監察的職能の中に含めて理解されてきた。また、このように理解されていた刺史の監察的職能の範疇的理解にあたっては通例近代的な司法の概念を流用することが一般的であった。これに対して、本稿では、刺史の監察的職能を官吏の非違を糾弾する行政監察権と司法における冤罪を防止するための司法監察権の二つに分けて理解した。中央は刺史が郡県レベルの地方行政の執行過程において、これに規範を与え、合理化する言う面で活躍することを期待していたのであり、刺史の二重の性格の中で、行政監督面での職能こそ刺史のもつ最も重要な職能であったと考えられる。刺史が行政監督面での職能を持っていたからこそ、州部は郡の一レベル上の地方行政編成としての性格を初めから保持し、その地域概念には刺史の設置当初から既にのちの次第に実体的な地方酒瓶編成へ変化しようとする種子が埋め込まれていたことが明らかになった。また、本稿は刺史の奏事の時期、奏事薄録の内容及び奏事薄録の受け付けの手続き等の角度から、刺史の奏事本来の様相に接近した。

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the character of Cishi 刺史 in the Former Han 前漢 dynasty. Although Cishi were inspectors, the notions of inspection at that time differed from modern notions of inspection, Cishi had the double responsibility of administration and inspection. Cishi were not absolute local executive officers, but held the administrative control which composed a part of the administrative function. To put it concretely, Chisi helped Chengxiang 丞相 to evaluate the achievements of local officials so as to promote or dismiss them from office. The very notion of administrative control has been lacking among scholars. They recognized the function of Cishi only from the standpoint of modern notions of juridical inspection. If we discuss the problem by such a method, it would not be possible to thoroughly understand the character of Cishi. In this paper, a function of inspection of the Cishi is divided into two aspects. The first aspect is the administrative inspection to impeach the government officials for dishonest acts, and the other is the judicial inspection which prevents false judgements. Cishi worked essentially in the local administration organized by the central government. Therefore it is important that Cishi possessed the right of administrative management. This paper will investigate the presenting a report to the Throne 奏事 by Cishi. We will also investigate the contents of the report and the procedure for the reception of the report. A report to the Throne by the Cishi shows the connection with the System of Administrative Reports 上計制, The report of the Cishi was on one hand received by The Chengxiang Minister's Office 丞相府 which managed administration. And it was also received by Yushizhongchen 御史中丞 who administered inspection. Chengxiang 丞相 evaluated the achievement of local officials on the basis of this report. And the Yushizhongcheng also impeached them on the basis of this report. It was through such system that Cishi fulfilled his double duties of administration and inspection.