<研究ノート>包山楚簡の[ユウ]と[ユウ]大夫

Abstract

The Chu dynasty bamboo strips from Baoshan 包山 are extraordinarily rare primary source materials revealing the Chu administrative system during the Warring States period. This study focuses on the units of local government found therein, examining the terms yi [ユウ] and yidafu [ユウ]大夫 in particular. The majority of scholars in most research have understood yi as roughly the equivalent of xian 県, usually translated as district. Thus, yidafu has been thought to refer to the highest official in the district, i.e., district magistrate, however, the theory that yidafu was simply an appellation for officials in general is also worthy of consideration. In order to test this second view, I have analyzed the cases in which the word yi appears in the Chu Baoshan strips. As a result of this analysis, I have clarified that the fact that the term yidafu never appears in tandem with a personal name and that the offices such as dayi 大[ユウ] and yisima [ユウ]司馬invariably appear combined with a personal name. Thus, one can see that yidafu was not an official title that was used to specify a particular individual. In the Chu bamboo strips yidafu is used ambiguously to designate dayi and various offices that included the word yi, or to specify those offices collectively, but when it was necessary to designate a specify individual, the titles dayi and yisima were employed. This indicates in conclusion that yidafu cannot be understood as the senior official of the jurisdiction yi.