| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 歷史學系碩博士班 === 98 === The relationship between friends is a unique one among the Five Constant Relationships. It is neither like a blood relationship between father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger brothers nor like a hierarchical relationship between ruler and subject. It is actually an equal relationship between humans. This article is firstly going to induce an “ideal type” of the relationship between friends and then to compare it with other new relationships with elements of friendship but not a simply friendship. Finally, it is analyzed by the hierarchy reflected by the conflicts in friendship and other Constant Relationships that what images of friendship was formed and what the changes were brought by its influence on other social relationships from the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period to Emperor Wu’s regime of Western Han.
First of all, friendship is not bound by ties of blood or a dominance relationship. It is stressed on “not being purposeful” in the relationship. Therefore, this relationship is maintained by mutual understanding（知）, trust（信）, and reciprocity（報）. These three supports are closely linked as well as indispensable to each other. In addition, being cautious in selecting friends is a common sense and making friends with people who bring positive influences can help us improve.
Secondly, the transformation of friendship in newly risen relationships can be classified under three types as follows. The first type is the relationship between an aristocrat and his hangers-on in which the ruler more or less attempt to bring elements of friendship. This has established a simulated friendship/ simulated relationship between a monarch and his courtiers. The following type is chivalrous men’s relationship in which they are good at amplifying the relationship between friends even to people they are not familiar with, while this doesn’t apply to the minor chivalrous men. The last type is the relationship between officials belonging to a same interest group. They also gather as normal friends do. The difference is the officials’ interest group gathers out of interests. The rise of friendship has inevitably influenced on other interpersonal relationships. These three types of newly risen relationships can be regarded as a result of the influence of friendship’s prevalence or another formations of friendship.
Finally, it could not be prioritized in friendship, blood ties, and political relationship when it comes to the conflicts in the Constant Relationships. By and large, people tend to prioritize political or blood relationship but there are still many records of putting friendship in the first place. As a result, the focus on the relationship between friends is a supplement to relationship discussion in which only respects for the sovereign and filial piety are emphasized in the past. Friendship was as a matter of fact very powerful from pre-Qin period to the beginning of Western Han dynasty.
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