秦汉县丞尉设置考

秦汉时期,县丞一般只设一人,但两汉京县为特制,有丞2-3人。县丞在秦及西汉有较强的私臣特性残留,故常称为“令丞”;到东汉,其公官的性质才开始凸显。县尉的设置,除京县外,有两尉、一尉和不设尉三种情形。在秦和西汉时期,有两尉编制的县一般都实设两尉。但东汉即使有二尉编制的县,也往往只实除1人。这种县尉设置的相对随意,是后代县尉权力下降、甚至废置的张本。从行政运作来看,尽管在秦时有县尉不关白县丞而自行署吏的情况,但秦汉时期的大部分情况下,县丞较县尉有着稍大的行政权力。

The Assistants of County Magistrate in Qin and Han Dynasties

In the times of Qin and Han, one Civil Assistant of County Magistrate(县丞) is in each county, while in the capital county, two or three is the usual way. The Assistant, somewhat, practically remains the character of private official. The Military Assistant(县尉) has the settings of two, one or none. In Qin and Western Han, two posts of Military Assistant are normal; while in Eastern Han, sometimes, only one of the two are settled and the other is left vacant. In most of the times, the Civil Assistant has the somewhat advantage over the Military Assistant in administrative power.