試論五一廣場東漢簡中的「待事掾」——兼論東漢「掾」的發展

“Dai Shi Yuan”待事掾in the Eastern Han Bamboo Slips from Wuyi Square

「待事掾」是一種已見於東漢到西晉碑刻上的職官。近年五一廣場東漢簡的公布，提供了該職務在東漢初中期活動的新資料，也引發學界對其性質究竟為「散吏」、「曹掾」或者「外部吏」的爭論。本文蒐羅五一廣場東漢簡中「待事掾」的資料，分析其在簡文中的職掌與特徵，認為該職如嚴耕望所言，是一種「散吏」。只是這種「散吏」並非像祭酒一樣位尊職散，而是視情況機動派遣的職位。平日待命於縣廷或郡府內，視郡縣內各部門的繁忙程度，支援各式勤務。有時也受郡縣派遣為使者，督導屬縣或部吏，確保任務按上級的意志執行。由於待事掾的特殊性質，究明其派遣流程，除了推進對待事掾本身的認識外，也有助於理解同時期其他掾、史的運用。同時，也能略窺秦漢的「掾」在地方官制中的發展軌跡。

“Dai shi yuan”待事掾(an officer waiting for assignment) was a type of official that can be seen in stele inscriptions from the Eastern Han to Western Jin dynasties. The publication of the Eastern Han bamboo slips from Wuyi Square in recent years has provided new information on the activities of this official, which in turn have sparked debate over its exact nature. This article analyzes the role and characteristics of“dai shi yuan”from related materials in the Wuyi Square slips and argues that it was an official without a specific position, or“sanli”散吏. That is not to say it was an idle position, rather being an active officer who frequently attended various duties as the situation required. Officials with the title of“dai shi yuan,”for example, were sometimes dispatched as messengers by chief officials to oversee subordinate units, namely ensuring that orders were being carried out according to the will of their superiors. By better understanding the nature of“dai shi yuan”as well as the processes of how and why they were dispatched, we are able to not only further our knowledge of both the title itself and how it developed but also apprehend the task groupings in local governments at that time.