王珪之『齊職儀』の編纂をめぐって

Abstract

The Qi Zhiyi 齊職儀, compiled by Wang Guizhi 王珪之 of the Southern Qi dynasty, has been known as a representative writing on bureaucracy in the Southern dynasties, and a relatively large number of passages are cited in the Tang Liudian 唐六典and other reference books compiled during the Tang to the Song dynasties. This paper investigates the historical background of the compilation of this book, collects passages cited in various works, thereby confirming the book's basic format and features, and also considers its historical characteristics. Wang Guizhi was ordered to compile this book in the 2nd year of the Yuanhui 元徽 era (474), when Chu Yan 褚淵, the regent at that time and others aimed to restore official discipline in the midst of political disorder caused by the emperor's favoritism. Later, when Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 held sway, the book was completed by Guizhi's son upon the request of Chu Yan who sided with the new regime as the new Qi dynasty was being established. According to the bibliography of Wang Guizhi in the History of the Southern Qi, this book recorded in detail the history and precedents of each official position, burdensome personnel rules required for junior positions, and was intended to contribute to construction of the new dynasty by meeting the needs of emergent lower-ranking officials. We can also confirm such content and structure through existing passages from this book. But the detailed description of the bureaucracy down to junior positions so closely suited to the needs of the time meant that this book was destined to be scattered and lost as time passed. As a result, extant passages in reference books refer mainly to the history of higher-ranking officials. The descriptions of these passages, which combine the world of Confucian classics and real history, would affect subsequent political works such as the Tang Liudian, serving as a model of governmental description that integrates ritual and history.