現實的選擇──完顏政權新興時代的君位繼承

Pragmatic Choice: How the Royal Wan Yan Family of Jin Dynasty Succeed to the Throne in the Emerging Era

金帝國的皇家完顏氏，於景祖烏古廼之後至太宗吳乞買之間，共兩世代六位君主的君位傳承，表現出「兄終弟及」、繼位年齡偏高、重視可經驗的才能與帶有「大宗」、「小宗」色彩等規律，今人以簡馭繁，或可將這段君位繼承的規律歸納為「嫡子繼承，擇立長君」原則。但在1130年，原定的儲君即太祖阿骨打與太宗吳乞買最年幼的同母弟斜也，未及繼承而身故，進而發生繼承人之爭。相爭的派系領袖，主要是太祖阿骨打的庶長子宗幹以及當朝皇帝太宗吳乞買，兩方爭持不下，直到1132年方由皇族、「國相」撒改之子宗翰出面協調，決議指定阿骨打的嫡孫合剌(即金熙宗)為繼承人。宏觀來看，此事不單開敢阿骨打子嗣獨占金帝國君位的道路，完顏氏君位傳承的舊慣也發生斷裂，失去既有的規律性。而不論舊慣的形成還是斷裂，皆與現實的權力運作緊密相關。

"During the rise of the Wan Yan Imperial Dynasty (完顏王朝), the succession always belonged to the most capable one among all the first-born sons. Nonetheless, the succession rule became controversial in the year of 1130. That is when Hela (合剌), the grandson of the first and foremost emperor, Wan Yan A-gu-da (完顏阿骨打), was unprecedentedly appointed to the succession. This broke the royal family tradition, which stated only the first, the oldest, and the most capable son has succession. As it is a matter of utmost importance when it comes to the succession order, it is influential to make perfectly clear and elucidate the succession rules in the study of the history of the Jin Dynasty (金朝)."