英文摘要 |
According to the Yüan History (Yüan-shih 元史), the Kesig (ch'ieh-hsüeh 怯薛) or ''Imperial Guard'' was divided into four groups under the hereditary command of the ''Four Heroes'' families. Each of the four Kesig went on duty for three straight days in accordance with the 12 cyclical characters (ti-chih 地支). Accordingly, the First or the Yeke Kesig served on shen 申, yu 酉 and hsü 戌 days; the Second Kesig on hai 亥, tzu 子 and ch'ou 丑 days, etc. Was the three-day rotation system observed as the Yüan History prescribed? By examining Yüan documents bearing the customary formula ''x年x月x日, x怯薛第x日'' (_year, _month, _day, the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day of the Kesig of _), one may answer this question satisfactorily. After having examined 18 passages using this formula, Yanai Wataru 箭內亙 claimed in 1916 that since Qubilai Qan's reign the system was not followed at all. Subsequently, however, after examining additional source materials, Katayama Tomoo 片山共夫 and Yeh Hsin-min 葉新民 confirmed the veracity of the Yüan History's statements in 1977 and 1983 respectively. Nevertheless, the presence of many passages consisting of the aforesaid formula and conflicting with the prescription of the Yüan History still needs to be explained. |