先秦时期最高统治者名称改变所显示的王权变化

从传说时代到秦统一六国,最高统治者的名称经过多次变化,每一次的变化都暗示着王权的改变。从传说时代到夏、商、西周,名称由帝到王,标志着从军事民主的禅让制过渡到一统天下的家天下,但一统较为松散。从西周到春秋、战国,周天子依然存在,周天子的权力不断衰落,甚至诸侯国国君的权力也在被削弱,家臣和卿大夫的权力在上升,一些诸侯开始称王,一些卿大夫夺取诸侯的权力也开始称王,共分权力,说明周天子不能再一统天下了。从战国到秦统一六国,由王改为皇帝,标志着统一的专制主义中央集权的封建国家形成。从此以后到清朝灭亡,最高统治者都称皇帝,权力也集中在皇帝手中。

On the Change of Monarchical Power Showed by the Change of the Name of the Highest Ruler during Pre-Qin Dynasty

Fron the period of legend to the union of the six states by Qin,the name of the highest ruler had experienced several changes,and each change implied the change of monarchical power.Form the period of legend to Xia,Shang and West Zhou Dynasty,the name was changed form emperor to the king,which showed the transition from abdication of military democracy to family inheritace,but the union at that time was not so strong.From West Zhou Dynasty to Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States,Zhou Emperor still existed,but his monarchical power was gradually weekened,and even the rulers of those states was also weekened,while the power of those officials was gradually strengthening,and some of them began to call themselves the king.All this showed that the Zhou Emperor was no longer the ruler of the whole country.From the Warring States to the union of the six states by Qin,the name of the king was changed to Emperor,this symbolized the formation of the feudal country of autocratic monarch.From this to the downfall of Qing Dynasty,the highest ruler was all call emperor and the monarchical power was also controled by the emperor.