從契約文書看清前期的旗地政策與典賣(1644-1820)

Abstract

This study probes into the issues relevant to Banner land using Ch'ing Dynasty contract documentation and records from the Imperial Household Bureau. After the Banners occupied China, administration of the Han Chinese and the Banners was separately done. For the Han Chinese, Ming Dynasty systems were retained, with the establishment of provincial, prefecture, region and district governments. For the administration of the Banners, institutions such as the staff administrator (佐領) and the regimental commander (參領) were created. Although the staff administrator functioned very much like the district government of the Han Chinese, taking charge of such affairs as domicile, farms and residences, soldier accreditation and court litigation, he didn't exercise control over the buying and selling of Banner land properties. This was unlike the Han practice of paying contract dues to the district governments for land trading. By the reign of Emperor Chien-lung, it was found that, over two-thirds of the Banner land belonging to the Banners officials around the capital had already changed hands. Furthermore, the Banner language, horse-riding and archery received great emphasis among the Banners during the Ch'ing Dynasty. In contrast, the Banners' adjustment to then prevalent social problems was given scant attention. Because the Banners were unskilled in administering farm properties, they depended much on servants, who took charge of land documentation, lease collection and farming. Farm management and production were assigned to various ranks of servants, who were familiar with trading practices and contract regulations adopted by the general populace, and were therefore efficient in trading land on behalf of their masters. Farmland and allowances were bestowed by the Ch'ing government on the Banners. But by the end of the 18th Century, almost all of the dispensed land had already been sold out. Dependent on meager allowance for a living, the Banners faced livelihood difficulties as a consequence.