"九品官人法"名称考辨

"九品官人法"通常被称为九品中正制,此外还有诸多异名、别称.名称是对事物的称谓,是区别事物彼此的符号,名称的随意称呼,无疑会造成认识上的偏颇、混乱以至对话的困难.九品官人法研究中就存在着这样的问题,而学界对此却重视不够,学界少数学者就此问题展开过讨论,亦未达成共识,甚至造成了新的混乱,有些观点也很值得商榷.经过考辨,文章认为"九品官人法"是曹魏时期陈群创立的选士制度的全称,"九品"是其简称.而"九品中正制"等称谓,是后世学者随意为不变的历史所更定之名,破坏了该制度"名"与"实"的对应关系,妨碍了人们对这一制度本来面目的认识.因此,笔者主张应废弃"九品中正制"等异名、别称,循"九品官人法"之"名"而责其"实",以摈弃成见,重新全面、客观地认识和评价这一制度.

An Investigation of the Naming of "the Rule of Nine Ranks of Officials"

The Rule of Nine Ranks of Officials is commonly referred to as the Just System of Nine Ranks besides other different names. Names are titles of things distinguishing between different things. However, arbitrary naming undoubtedly causes biases and confusions making it difficult to communicate. Such problems exist in the Rule of Nine Ranks of Officials which have not been given enough importance by the academic circles. Only few scholars have delved into this problem and yet have not reached agreement, some even causing new confusion. After investigation, this article holds that "the Rule of Nine Ranks of Officials" is the full name of the institution of official selection created by Chen Qun in the times of Cao-Wei, called "the Nine Ranks" in short whereas other titles like "the Just System of Nine Ranks", etc. are modified titles for unchangeable history, prejudicing the relationship between the "substance" and the "form" of the institution and hindering proper understanding of the true features of this institution. Therefore, the writer maintains that abrogating other different names like "the Just System of Nine Ranks" and seeking the "substance" of the "form" of "the Rule of Nine Ranks of Officials is commendable in eliminating prejudices and ensuring a whole and objective understanding and assessment of this institution.