本文試圖探討自西漢至東漢以來宗室內部的變遷過程，以及為何會在東漢末年出現大量的宗室，並重新評估他們的作為。在漢代，宗室的定義主要是指劉邦和其兄弟的後代。隨著時間的推移和後代的增加，宗室人數不斷擴大，也造成宗室內部產生分化。根據服屬遠近和嫡庶之別，產生了在宗室群體中最弱勢的一群人，本文稱之為「平民宗室」。這些「平民宗室」不但在親屬關係上位於皇帝與諸侯王的五服之外，也未獲得任何爵位。具現有的資料可知，他們入仕管道主要是透過察舉與徵辟，仍需要通過自身的努力成為「士」，並以此獲得社會地位和名聲。而在東漢末年有不少「平民宗室」涉入黨錮之禍，他們多站在士人的立場批評政府。之後，不少的「平民宗室」開始前往地方發展。雖然他們最終都遭到其他勢力的吞併，但在治理地方中仍有不少成就。「平民宗室」們在與豪族的合作和矛盾、集團內部的衝突以及與非華夏民族和流寇的對抗等方面，顯示出相似的作法。雖然有些統治手段可能有所不足，但他們仍舊有許多方面值得給予正面的評價。劉備身為此時代最知名的宗室之一，在其稱王和稱帝的過程中，宗室身分雖然在亂世中並未帶來實質利益，但對劉備來說，則有助於爭奪天下霸主的地位。
This article explores changes within the imperial clan from Western to Eastern Han, particularly the surge in imperial relatives during late Eastern Han. It focuses on a subgroup termed "commoner imperial relatives," who lacked noble titles and had to enter government service through their efforts. Many of them criticized the government during the Partisan Prohibitions, later venturing into regional development. Despite eventual assimilation, they achieved notable success in local governance. Their approaches in dealing with powerful clans, internal conflicts, and resistance against non-Han ethnic groups showed similarities. Although their governance methods had shortcomings, they merit positive evaluation. Notably, Liu Bei, a prominent imperial relative, didn't gain substantial benefits from his imperial status in the chaotic era but found it helpful in his pursuit of becoming a hegemonic figure during his coronation and emperorship.
