《左傳》「役人」考

Study on “Yi Ren” in Zuo Zhuan

本文以《左傳》為範圍，討論「役人」的工作內容、「役人」的身分，以及「役人」與「輿人」、「築者」、「城者」的區隔。本文有下列三點結論：第一、役人的工作內容有（一）砍伐樹木、採拾柴薪；（二）修築建造各類建物；（三）戰場上修築營壘、籬笆；（四）挖掘溝渠等四項。第二、在《左傳》中，「役人」應當是所有服徭役之庶人的總稱，而「役人」之中有一部分主要是執行修築建物及營壘、挖掘溝渠等工作，這一部分的「役人」也稱為「築者」、「城者」。「役人」之中有一部分人「主要是與推挽車輦有關的事務」；這一部分的「役人」，在《左傳》中則被另稱為「輿人」。第三、《左傳》中將「役人」、「輿人」、「築者」、「城者」作較細的分類，推測應是庶人人口的增多，因此在徵役時將其細分為「築者」、「城者」及「輿人」，使其專司某部分的工作。

This article mainly focuses on Zuo Zhuan, discussing the work and the identification of “Yi Ren”, and the differences among “Yi Ren”, “Yu Ren”, “Zhu Zhe”, and “Cheng Zhe”. This paper argued that “Yi Ren” has four different works: felling trees and collecting faggot, constructing all kinds of buildings, building barracks on the battle field, and digging out ditches. Secondly, in Zuo Zhuan, “Yi Ren” refers to people who serve for the country, and some part of “Yi Ren” are responsible for constructing buildings, barracks, and digging out ditches. So, those who are responsible for the constructions are also called “Zhu Zhe”, and “Cheng Zhe”. In addition, some part of “Yi Ren” are responsible for the chariots, and in Zuo Zhuan, those are called “Yu Ren”. Thirdly, this paper proposed there are detailed classifications of “Yi Ren”, “Yu Ren”, “Zhu Zhe”, and “Cheng Zhe” in Zuo Zhuan because people during that time increased a lot. As a consequence, by subdividing the work of “Yi Ren” into “Yu Ren”, “Zhu Zhe”, and “Cheng Zhe” can make everyone carry out their own duties.