江湖盜、水保甲與明清兩湖水上社會控制

River Bandits and Social Control in Ming-Qing Hubei and Hunan

依託於江、湖等水域，從事劫掠活動者稱之為「江湖盜」。兩湖地區水域面積廣大，生存著為數眾多的江湖盜。明清兩湖地區的江湖盜主要有「偶爾為之」的社會型盜匪以及職業型盜匪兩種，他們具有流動性、隱蔽性及分散性等特徵。為了應對兩湖地區日益猖獗的江湖盜匪，官府實施了在基層社會推行水保甲制度，在水域地區加強塘汛、巡檢、水師的配置和巡邏稽查制度等等相應的措施。並通過對停泊的碼頭、地處要衝的市鎮等沿江沿湖固定陸地的排查監控，以及針對江湖盜匪的流動性而採取的水上巡邏稽查等措施，力圖實現對江湖盜匪的全面管控。然而，這些措施並不能從根本上根除江湖盜的存在。 Pirates of rivers and lakes typically engaged in robbery or murder. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were a number of pirates in both Hubei and Hunan provinces, which contain thousands of rivers and lakes. Pirates of rivers and lakes may be divided into two types: occasional or occupational. They have fluidity, concealment, and dispersion characteristics. Officials adopted a series of anti-pirate measures such as implementing a water bao-jia system at the grass-roots level, strengthening patrol inspection on the water, and inspecting docks. However, these measures did not eradicate the pirate presence in the region.

Pirates of rivers and lakes typically engaged in robbery or murder. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were a number of pirates in both Hubei and Hunan provinces, which contain thousands of rivers and lakes. Pirates of rivers and lakes may be divided into two types: occasional or occupational. They have fluidity, concealment, and dispersion characteristics. Officials adopted a series of anti-pirate measures such as implementing a water bao-jia system at the grass-roots level, strengthening patrol inspection on the water, and inspecting docks. However, these measures did not eradicate the pirate presence in the region.