邱澎生《從經濟到法律：明清中國市場演化的歷史》評介

Book review: Chui Peng-shan “from Economy to law: History of China's market evolution in Ming and Qing dynasties”

過往學界流行一種以「歐洲中心論」為視角所構築的全球經濟史觀。這套史觀的論述邏輯是：十八、十九世紀的歐洲因為發生工業革命，故能率先蛻變為經濟快速成長的先進國家，並建立了以歐洲為中心的近代全球經濟體系。在這套全球經濟體系中，歐洲是近代全球經濟成長的中心，同一時期的明清經濟則始終處於停滯狀態中，此與其未發生工業革命有關，亦被指稱為所謂的「明清社會經濟發展停滯論」。本書反對「明清社會經濟發展停滯論」的說法，也反對僅依工業革命史觀以解釋明清經濟發展史。本書主張從中國社會經濟史的發展脈絡和材料入手，並以市場演化的視角加以探索，以理解明清社會經濟發展與變遷的史實。根據本書的研究發現，明清社會經濟市場在「質」的部份，至少出現四種重要演化：其一，商人公共財產權的保護及大量自主結社商人團體的湧現。其二，商人試圖建構市場的生產秩序。其三，商人在與國家和社會的角力中重建市場交易秩序。其四，商人意識的抬頭和商人團體內部秩序的調整。 In the past, a view of global economic history built from the perspective of “European Central Theory” was popular in academic circles. The logic of this set of historical views is as a: in the 18 and 19th century, Europe, because of the industrial Revolution, was able to take the lead in transforming into an advanced country with rapid economic growth, and established a modern global economic system centered on Europe. In this global economic system, Europe is the center of modern global economic growth, the same period of the Ming and Qing dynasties has always been in a state of stagnation, which is related to the absence of the industrial Revolution, has also been referred to as the so-called “Ming and Qing dynasties social and economic development stagnation theory.” This book opposes the “stagnation of social and economic development in the Ming and Qing Dynasties,” and also opposes the interpretation of the economic development history of Ming and Qing dynasties only according to the historical view of Industrial revolution This book advocates starting from the development context and materials of China's social and economic history, and exploring from the perspective of market evolution, in order to understand the historical facts of social and economic development and change in Ming and Qing dynasties. According to the study of this book, the social and economic market in the Ming and Qing dynasties appeared at least four important evolution in the “Quality” part: first, the protection of businessmen's public property rights and the emergence of a large number of autonomous associations of businessmen. Second, businessmen try to construct the production order of the market. Third, businessmen in the struggle with the state and society to rebuild the market trading order. Four, the rise of merchant consciousness and the adjustment of the internal order of merchant groups.