漢代政務溝通中的文書與口頭傳達：以居延甲渠候官為例

Written and Verbal Bureaucratic Communication in the Han Dynasty: A Case Study of the Juyen Jiaqu Patrol

受惠於出土文書，「文書行政」研究方興未艾，然而學者往往過分強調政務溝通中文書的重要性，忽略口頭傳達同時扮演關鍵角色。本文以居延都尉府甲渠候官為個案，徹底分析候官吏員間的溝通模式，包括機構內部與外部之溝通。透過追尋口頭傳達的痕跡，更深刻地觀察文書傳達的性質與限制，而對「文書行政」研究進行反省與補充。本文結論以為，一般政務溝通可以口頭亦可以文書進行，視實際條件及需要而定，但當面口頭傳達經常得以更清楚地表達意旨及雙向確認。司法及儀式性場域的溝通涉及事實或關係之確認，尤其無法以文書取代。然而另一方面，不少報告在制度上確實限定以文書為之，此時文書具有留存記錄、具名負責的功能。而當涉及機構之間的文書回覆與轉發之時，即使是同一機構內部成員亦會透過文書聯繫，以利文書進一步回覆與轉發。文書有一定格式，且須依行政層級傳遞，固然得以樹立權威，有時卻可能限縮其溝通機能，需要其他救濟之道。

Recently unearthed materials and documents have greatly spurred research on “documentary administration.” However, many scholars have overly emphasized the written bureaucratic documents, while overlooking the fact that verbal communication had an equally important role. This article centers around a case study of the Jiaqu houguan (Jiaqu patrol) of Juyen duwei fu (Juyen border command), seeking to learn about the internal communication among officials at the Jiaqu patrol and the external communication with its subordinates. As traces of verbal communication are recognized, this paper also observes how written bureaucratic communication was carried out, as well as its limitations. In conclusion, this paper argues that while bureaucratic communication can be carried out in both written and verbal forms, depending on the conditions and needs, face-to-face verbal communication can usually convey the message more clearly, and at the same time, mutual confirmation can be done more easily. Communication about judicial matters and rituals in particular, as they usually involve clarifying facts and relationships, create a burden for documentary communication. In other realms, many reports indeed are required to be done in written format, where the documents will serve as records and people can therefore be held accountable. When written responses are required or when documents are passed between organizations, even internal communication within the same organization tends to be done in written form so that the messages can be responded or forwarded more efficiently. These documents are written in a format that follows a set of rules and standards, and must be delivered in accordance to the administrative levels and bureaucratic ranks. Authority can be easily established through documentary administration, but communication is also often constrained and hence other communication channels are often required.