一枝獨秀？——道光朝以後內務府完顏氏家族的當差與經濟狀況

Unusual Distinction: A Study on Official Careers and Economic Conditions of the Wanggiya Family since the Daoguang Reign

本文嘗試以內務府完顏氏為個案，探討道光朝以後上三旗包衣旗人當差入仕的制度途徑與經濟發展之關係。自清初以來完顏氏即以高度的文化素養著稱，但究其脈絡，家族榮顯實則集中在特定房支之下，呈現「一枝獨秀」的情況。上三旗包衣既屬皇帝的家人，照理而言每位族人均有為皇帝當差服務的義務。但實際上，個人能力、挑差性質與父兄遺留的政治資源等因素，均交互影響包衣個人的發展際遇。就完顏氏家族的例子來看，上三旗包衣在晚清時仍普遍在內務府內當差，而且越晚出生的族人，挑到差事的難度就越高，進而直接影響其經濟基礎、婚姻機會以及家戶組織的規模。但麟慶的直系子孫則因父兄突出的政治表現，累積豐厚的家貲，得以透過挑差、考試、捐納、恩廕等不同制度，多途並進，尋求更多入仕進身的機會，也不會被局困在內廷體制之中。表面上看來，擁有經濟能力、政治資源的內務府包衣，仕途管道雖較清初包衣寬廣多元。然而，晚清「人浮於缺」是不分內廷、外朝的普遍現象，能否佔到實缺，則成為限制晚清內務府包衣仕途發展的關鍵因素。

This article examines the relationship between the official careers of the Upper-Three-Banner Booi and their economic conditions, by focusing on the Wanggiya family since the Daoguang reign. The Wanggiya family was renowned for its high level of literacy, yet the glory of the family was concentrated in a single lineage. Theoretically, each member had the duty to run errands for the emperors, but different factors could have an impact on a Booi’s career, including personal capacities, types of errands, and family legacies. Although the young generation of Booi in the late Qing could find it difficult to secure an errand post, the lineal descendants of Lingqing managed to enter the Imperial Household Department and other government sectors through different pathways, like errand posts, examination, donation, and inheritance, thanks to the rich political and financial resources left by their elder male members. Although these particular Booi enjoyed a wider range of career pathways than the early Qing Booi, the overstaffed late Qing court could only offer limited opportunities. Hence, securing a substantial position became a key issue for these Booi to develop their official careers.