適彼樂土：地方士紳與明崇禎十四年紹興山陰縣天樂鄉的救荒活動

“Heading for Fairyland”: Local Elites and Disaster Relief in Tianyue Township, Shanyin County, Shaoxing Prefecture, 1641

救荒是社會史研究中的重要課題。本文以晚明的相關原始資料，尤其是祁彪佳（1603-1645）的日記為基本材料，選取紹興山陰縣天樂鄉作為研究個案，對以下三方面加以探討：一是通過崇禎十四年（1641）的旱災及地方應對措施的考察，深入討論晚明災荒時期紹興地區的基層社會，特別是士紳階層在救荒行為中社會角色的定位，並對地方政府和士紳階層的具體職能和雙方互動情況加以探討；二是考察「禮」作為地方士紳參與救荒行動的生成機制所具備的基本特徵；三是圍繞水利維修作為救荒活動的重要一環所引起的一場爭論，探討如何能夠在「私利」的追求與「公利」的實現兩者之間取得平衡。這不僅有助於我們深化對傳統儒家資源價值的體認，也引導我們思考受生態與社會因素制約的區域性問題。 Disaster relief is an important topic in social history research. Based on primary materials from the late Ming dynasty, especially Qi Biaojia’s (1603-1645) diary, this article examines the drought of 1641 in Tianyue Township, Shanyin County, Shaoxing as a case study of relief activities below the county level. The first section analyzes the social processes in Shaoxing during the disasters and famines of the late Ming period, and particularly the local elites’ social role in disaster relief. This section also explores in detail the functions and responsibilities of local government and elites, as well as the interactions between them. The second section examines the basic characteristics of li 禮 (Confucian ethics, propriety and rituals) as the motivator of local elite initiatives in disaster relief. The third section investigates a dispute over the repair and maintenance of water conservancy systems as an important part of disaster relief, explaining the balance maintained between the pursuit of private gain and the fulfillment of public good. Thus, a deep and detailed study into this case provides considerable insight into the value of the Confucian tradition, as well as the ecological and social limits in regional issues.

Disaster relief is an important topic in social history research. Based on primary materials from the late Ming dynasty, especially Qi Biaojia’s (1603-1645) diary, this article examines the drought of 1641 in Tianyue Township, Shanyin County, Shaoxing as a case study of relief activities below the county level. The first section analyzes the social processes in Shaoxing during the disasters and famines of the late Ming period, and particularly the local elites’ social role in disaster relief. This section also explores in detail the functions and responsibilities of local government and elites, as well as the interactions between them. The second section examines the basic characteristics of li 禮 (Confucian ethics, propriety and rituals) as the motivator of local elite initiatives in disaster relief. The third section investigates a dispute over the repair and maintenance of water conservancy systems as an important part of disaster relief, explaining the balance maintained between the pursuit of private gain and the fulfillment of public good. Thus, a deep and detailed study into this case provides considerable insight into the value of the Confucian tradition, as well as the ecological and social limits in regional issues.