北宋蔡氏家族是福建仙游著名的官宦世家。蔡京之父蔡凖为礼部侍郎；伯父蔡襄既有杰出的政治才干，又在书法、文学等领域有突出成就。蔡京与其弟蔡卞更是北宋晚期政坛上的风云人物，蔡京四度为相，权势显赫；蔡卞为王安石女婿，亦官至尚书左丞、知枢密院事。本文即以蔡氏家族的人际关系为中心，以蔡氏家族的核心人物蔡京、蔡卞兄弟在北宋晚期的政治活动为线索，通过探讨蔡氏家族的各种人际网络关系，来观察蔡氏家族在崛起和发展的过程中所建立和利用的人际关系网络，进而揭示蔡氏家族对北宋晚期政治的影响。本文分为五个章节的内容：绪论部分主要提出本文所要探讨的问题和学术背景，以及笔者需要说明的问题。第一章从蔡氏家族所处背景、主要成员、家族崛起三个方面来探讨，对蔡氏家族作一大致说明。第二章是本文的中心，主要从蔡氏家族与同僚的关系、家族姻亲和内部成员的关系三个方面加以论述，分析蔡氏家族是如何建立并利用其广泛人际关系的。第三章通过介绍蔡氏兄弟在北宋晚期政治上的所作所为，来探讨其家族对北宋晚期政治的影响。余论部分对蔡氏家族进行审视、评价。关键词： 蔡氏家族 北宋晚期 政治 蔡京 蔡卞

The Xianyou Cai family is renowned for many officials members in Northern Song. Among whom the most famous is Caijing, a four-time prime minister. His father Cai Zhun was the vice Minister of Ritual, his uncle Cai Xiang both a famous politician and artist, his brother Cai Bian the son-in law of Wang Anshi and a vice minister and head of the Council of Military.The thesis, based on social connections of the Cai family, tries to reveal the family’s influence on the politics of the dynasty. It develops according to the political activity of two brothers: Cai Jing and Cai Bian-the core figures of the Cai family and discusses the complex human relations the family established and utilized during their rising to power.The thesis consists of five parts: The introduction puts forward the research questions and theoretical background of the thesis. Chapter one gives brief introduction to the Cai family from three perspectives: historical background of the family, main family members and the rising of the family. Chapter two, the focus of the thesis, discusses the relationship between the Cai family and their colleagues, their in-laws as well as relationship among the family members. It aims to find out how did the Cai family establish and utilize their extensive social connections. Chapter three is devoted to the family’s influence on the politics of late Northern Song Dynasty by analyzing Cai brothers’ political activity. The conclusion is an evaluation of the Cai family.KEY WORDS：the Cai family late Northern Song dynasty politics Caijing Cai Bian