摘要
五代時期向被傳統史家認為是混亂失序的黑暗年代，但有當代學者主張，此一無明確中心的政治結構，在中國歷史上有其積極意義，即：讓建基在「天下」理論、帶有鮮明中國中心色彩的「冊封—朝貢體制」暫時失效，迫使傳統中國進入長約四世紀的對等外交時期。不過，隨著晚近研究的推進，學人日益認識到「天下」理念及其體制實具有相當彈性，可因應不同政治環境作出調整，即便在五代，亦可看到其運作證據，且遠不只是發動者的片面理想，對參與者言亦有實際用途。針對前人的對立說法，本文擇選曾先後被兩造引為論據的吳越國作為重新檢視的個案，依序考察 (1) 其與歷代中原王朝所發起的天下體制之關係，及從中蒙受的助益與限制；(2) 其與中原王朝以外政權往來時所受到的天下體制影響；(3) 吳越晚期的佛國形象營造與天下體制之關係。考察結果顯示，吳越國的自國能動性，始終與天下體制保持一定的張力。基本上，吳越國只在與中原政權往來時謹守天下規範，而當互動對象轉為諸國或臣民時，則常會根據自國利益依違於天下體制之期許，從而形成複雜且重層的實踐。探明此例之餘，本文也希望能藉這則豐富個案，推進目前猶未被賦予太多關注的唐末以降天下研究。
The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in China has traditionally been seen as one of chaos in history, but some modern scholars have argued that the ambiguous and decentralized political structure had a constructive influence on Chinese history; that is, the tributary system built on the notion of tianxia 天下 (lit. “[all] under heaven”) became largely ineffective, leading to four centuries characterized by diplomatic equality. However, recent research has also highlighted the adaptability of tianxia to various political environments. Even during the Five Dynasties period, evidence shows the functionality of tianxia, proving it was not merely an ideal of those instituting it within political workings but also served practical purposes for the participants operating under it. The present article selects the Wuyue Kingdom (893–978) as a case study to investigate the different findings of previous scholars, and to this end, systematically explores three aspects: (1) the benefits and limitations of the Wuyue Kingdom’s interactions with the successive Central Plain dynasties, who proclaimed themselves as the “Central Kingdom” and initiated the tianxia system in which the Wuyue participated; (2) the impact of the tianxia system on the relationships of the Wuyue Kingdom with other regimes beyond the Central Plain dynasties; and (3) the correlation between the late Wuyue Kingdom’s construction of its Buddhist state image and the tianxia system. The findings of this article reveal a perpetual tension between the autonomy of the Wuyue Kingdom and the influence of the system. In general, the Wuyue Kingdom adhered to the norms of the tianxia system when engaging with the Central Plain dynasties, but when dealing with other states or their own subjects, they often deviated from its expectations in pursuit of their own interests, ultimately resulting in complex and multi-layered practices. Finally, this article also seeks to contribute to the relatively unexplored study of tianxia during the Tang-Song transition, an area that has not yet received adequate scholarly attention.
關鍵詞
天下 中國 五代 吳越 佛國
tianxia (all under heaven); Central Kingdom; Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms; Wuyue Kingdom; Buddhist state