《左傳》「私屬」考

Studies on “Shi Su” in Zuo Zhuan

《左傳》所載私屬組成分子計族、徒、臣、甲、士五種。族之身分是貴族宗族成員，是私屬骨幹。徒是庶人，其職業屬性為農；除表明身分為庶人外，也提示其在私屬應擔任步兵。臣之情況最為複雜，分家臣、位比庶人之臣、地位低下之奴隸等三種類群；其中家臣地位最高，奴隸最為卑賤。奴隸一類之臣無法成為私屬，位比庶人之臣為私屬者數量應最多。位比庶人之臣來源與徒相同，皆是原屬國家或國君之庶人，投入私門後成為貴族之臣。至於家臣之臣在私屬中應擔任指揮官角色。甲指著鎧甲之士卒，泛指已具備武裝之私屬人員。至於私屬之士，來源即原屬國家或國君之國人中的士。士是貴族最底層，投入貴族私門仍稱為士，享有相同等級與待遇。貴族私門之士有部分擔任貴族家臣，但家臣數量有限，推測有部分士與徒及位比庶人之臣同樣擔任步兵工作。私屬武裝分為車兵與步兵，族及家臣之臣擔任車兵機率最高；士若經過御者、車右專業訓練，亦有機會擔任車兵。徒及身分類比庶人之臣基本上應是擔任步兵。甲泛指私屬車兵與步兵，未能明確區隔其武裝屬性。

The components of “Shi Su” in Zuo Zhuan were composed of five different categories, including “Zu”, “Tu”, “Chen”, “Jia”, and “Shi”. “Zu” referred to the members of the royal family, and should be regarded as the most prominent part of “Shi Su”. “Tu” was defined as “Shu Ren”, whose work was to farm. This not only indicated the identity of “Tu” but also proposed its role as infantry. As for “Chen”, three more sub-categories could be divided, such as “Jia Chen” which enjoyed the highest status, “Chen” which had the same hierarchy as “Shu Ren”, and “Nu Li” which shared the lowest status. In addition, “Chen” belonging to the sub-category of “Nu Li” could not become “Shi Su”, and the majority of “Shi Su” was “Chen” which had the same hierarchy as “Shu Ren”. “Chen” which had the same hierarchy as “Shu Ren” and “Tu” were both the previous “Shu Ren” under kings' rule, but later served for the nobles and became “Chen”. As for “Jia Chen”, it served as the role of commander in “Shi Su”. “Jia” referred to “soldiers in armor”, and in a broad sense, armed people in “Shi Su”. Considering “Shi” in “Shi Su”, we found that “Shi” was originally termed as “Guo Ren”. “Shi” was on the lowest position of the nobles. After “Shi” served for the nobles, the title remained as before, and still enjoyed the original privileges. Some part of “Shi” who served for the nobles was “Jia Chen”, but the number might not be very big. Instead, some “Shi”, “Tu” and “Chen” which had the same hierarchy as “Shu Ren” all served as infantry. The armed forces of “Shi Su” were made up of “Che Bing” and “Bu Bing”. “Zu” and “Jia Chen” had the highest chance of serving as “Che Bing”. After passing the professional training of “Yu Zhe” and “Che You”, “Shi” also had the chance to be “Che Bing”. Moreover, “Tu” and “Chen” which had the same hierarchy as “Shu Ren” served as infantry. “Jia” referred to “soldiers in armor”, including “Che Bing” and “Bu Bing”, but there was no clear distinction between them.