The Power of an Alleged Tradition - CHINA Buchservice

260
DOROTHEE SCHAAB-HANKE
�����������������
�����������������������������
One assistant [at a time] and one assistant responsible for the Hall of Light
as well as one responsible for the Terrace of the Spirits, two hundred bushels
[income].
The Original Note says: “Two assistants, being in charge of the Hall of Brilliance
and the Terrace of the Spirits; [the one being] responsible for the Terrace of the
Spirits is in charge of watching the sun, moon, stars and the ethers; they both
belong to the offi ce of Grand Scribe.” 68
According to this account, the offi ce of the taishiling must have comprised a wide
range of responsibilities. As Hans Bielenstein puts it, the offi ce of the taishiling was
even the most versatile and technically trained offi cial in the ministry and, for that
matter, the entire central government. 69 Of course, this account mainly refl ects the
situation of Later Han times when there was, as Bielenstein puts it, “a real amalgamation
of offi ces,” as proved by the titles of the lesser subordinates of the Prefect Grand
Astrologer during Later Han and when, as Bielenstein maintains, the sphere of his
authority was increased by absorbing into his offi ce that of the former Prefect Grand
Augur. 70
As far as the duties of the taishiling offi cial are concerned, the Hou Han shu
account seems, however, to be taken from an earlier source, the Han jiuyi�����
(Old Ceremonial of Han) by Wei Hong ��, a text supposed to refl ect the situation
of the Earlier Han times. But to be sure about the duties of the taishiling during the
time of Han Emperor Wu, we had better turn to the description in the Shiji account
itself.
Before examining more closely two passages in chapter 28 which described the
fi eld in which Sima Tan was engaged during the time he served at the court of
Emperor Wu, some remarks should be added on the title taishigon�� ��� (The
Lord the Grand Scribe) as it occurrs in this context. Already in his genealogical
account of the Sima clan at the beginning of chapter 130 of the Shiji, Sima Qian
mentions that his father Tan became a taishigong. 71 Moreover, the expression taishigong
yue����� (“The Lord the Grand Scribe says”) is used as a marker to introduce
the author’s personal remark, usually near the end of a chapter. 72
It is evident that the advisory function of Sima Tan was closely linked with the
68 Hou Han shu, “Baiguan zhi” 2/3572. The Tang commentary to the Hou Han shu adds to this another quotation
from the Hanguan (jiuyi) which sheds further light on the competences of the altogether 42 (or 41) offi ces or
Appointees, as H. Bielenstein renders them, who were affi liated to the Terrace of Spirits which has been identifi
ed by Bielenstein as the imperial observatory. 14 of them were Watchers of the Stars (hou xing), 2 Watchers of
the Sun (hou ri), 2 Watchers of the Winds (hou feng), 12 Watchers of the Ethers (hou qi), 3 Watchers of the Suns
shadow (hou guiying), 7 Watchers of the Zhong Pitch Pipes (hou zhonglü) and 1 Member of the Suite (sheren����
�������������� ��������������������������������� ���
����� Cf. Bielenstein, Bureaucracy, 22–23,
69 H. Bielenstein, Bureaucracy, 19.
70 H. Bielenstein, Bureaucracy, 22. According to proposals made by the taishiling and other offi cials in charge of
the sacrifi ces, the Grand Augur (taizhu ��) should be entrusted with responsibility for the newly established
ceremonies for Taiyi (cf. the Shiji passage translated on p. 21). This passage is of special interest as it demonstrates
the relatively high position of the taishiling within the hierarchy of offi cials at the time of Sima Tan, as even the
offi ce of the taizhu was subordinated to the taishiling.
71 Shiji 130/3286.
72 For the different hypotheses concerning the origin of the title taishigong���� in the Shiji, see the notes added
by the Jijie, Suoyin and Zhengyi commentators to Shiji 130/3287 as well as to Shiji 12/461.
BMFEA 74 · 2002