東漢的「東宮」和「西宮」

The East-West Divide of the Imperial Palace in the Eastern Han Dynasty

東漢有南宮和北宮，其中又各有「東宮」和「西宮」，構成四個相對獨立的建築群。南宮之「東宮」以雲臺殿為前殿，其後有玉堂殿等建築。北宮之「東宮」以德陽殿為前殿，其後有章德殿等建築。南宮之「西宮」以嘉德殿為前殿，北宮之「西宮」以崇德殿為前殿，其後也各有一組建築。東漢一朝，皇帝例居「東宮」，皇太后皆居「西宮」。皇帝親政和太后臨朝兩種狀態的轉換，表現為最高權力在「東宮」和「西宮」之間的切換。這一格局為少帝在位時太后臨朝提供了方便，對外戚干政局面的形成和宦官勢力的發展也有一定影響。

The imperial palace complex of the Eastern Han dynasty consisted of the Southern Palace and the Northern Palace. Moreover, each of those had its own “eastern” and “western palace,” making in all four rather independent building complexes. This article first identifies the main buildings of each complex: the front hall of the “eastern palace” in the southern palace complex was the Yuntai Hall, with the Yutang Hall and other buildings behind it. The front hall of the “eastern palace” in the northern palace complex was the Deyang Hall, and behind it were the Zhangde Hall and other buildings. The front halls of the “western palaces” were the Jiade Hall in the south and the Chongde Hall in the north, and each had its own affiliated buildings. In the Eastern Han dynasty, the eastern palace served as the residence of the emperor, while the western palace was that of the empress dowager. As control of the empire alternated between emperors and empress-dowager regents, the seat of power shifted between the eastern and western palaces. This physical east-west divide made it easier for the powerful empress dowager to hold regency from her own residence, and it contributed to the growing involvement in court politics of imperial in-laws and the rise of eunuchs.