生豬貿易的形成：十九世紀末期臺灣北部商品經濟的發展（1881－1900）

Emergence of Pig Trade: Development of Commercial Economy in North Taiwan, 1881-1900

本文除了論述豬與豬肉在臺灣漢人農業生產與日常消費的重要性外，更試圖藉由分析十九世紀末期臺灣北部發達之生豬進口活動，說明清末開港活動對當地民眾之經濟與日常生活的影響。本文研究顯示，清代臺灣豬隻的生產與消費活動發達。以十九世紀後期為例，養豬事業是臺灣最普遍的家庭副業，就商品價值而論，也是當時臺灣最重要的產業之一。造成生產活動興盛的主要原因，包括：養豬成本低廉、豬肉高度商品化、養豬活動有助於水稻作與旱作等農業生產等。但更重要的是臺灣民眾對於豬肉的珍視與嗜食，豬肉既是日常膳食材料，也是祭祀、宴會或餽贈的重要物品。雖然豬隻的生產與消費活動發達，但在1880－1900年，臺灣北部卻從中國閩、浙沿岸大量輸入生豬，形成興盛的兩岸生豬貿易活動。依據本文分析，生豬貿易的出現與發展乃十九世紀末期臺灣北部開港後經濟轉型的重要特徵。它一方面顯示當時的臺北有通貨膨脹的現象，致使豬肉價格上漲；另一方面，也反映臺灣北部在開港及成為臺灣政治中心後，造成本地的農業生產體系發生變化，使豬隻生產減少，但豬肉的需求卻因民眾消費能力的提升而增加。由此顯示，十九世紀末期商品經濟的發展，已深刻影響民眾的日常生活。

Through tracing the emergence of pig trade in north Taiwan in the late 19th century, this article examines the importance of pigs and pork in the agricultural production and daily consumption of Han people in Taiwan; and more importantly, investigates the influence of the opening up of the port trade on the economy and living standard of local people in late-Qing Taiwan. This article shows that the production and consumption of pig had been flourishing in Qing Taiwan. Pig husbandry was the most popular household sideline, and its considerable commercial value made it an important business at that time. Factors accounting for the popularity of pig husbandry included the low cost of raising pigs for peasant households, the high commodification of pigs, and the contribution of pig rearing to rice cultivation. Another major reason is the Han's preference for pork. Not only was pork consumed a lot in daily diet of Han Taiwanese, it was also used at banquets and religious worships as well as sent as gifts.