藏人蟲草生計的「障眼」技藝與生存邏輯

The“Smokescreen”Skill and Survival Logic of Cordyceps Livelihood in Tibet

冬蟲夏草是一種全球最昂貴的草藥材之一，亦為當代青藏高原藏人極為重要的生計來源。1980年代中國實施改革開放，蟲草遂為具有傳統醫療意義的商品，也逐步取代農、牧業為主的藏區生產型態。蟲草溝通了藏區與漢地的經濟互動，並連繫世界貿易體系。「障眼」是一種交易過程的技術，商販藉此爭取高出一般情況的利潤，本文視之為一項社會關係與文化實踐，一項生存技藝。本文剖析青藏高原知名蟲草產地—木扎（化名）的蟲草經濟，指出鑲嵌於地方人際網絡的生存倫理，以理解族際、前資本主義與資本主義社會、地方與國家之互動。木扎藏商運用文化條件與人際網絡，形塑產業差異化的族群經濟，實現意義上的族群合作，緩和競爭，避免被漢地的大型資本吞併，鞏固藏商在當地的優勢，從而彰顯能動性。

Cordyceps sinensis is one of the most expensive herbal medicines in the world. It´s also a vital source of livelihood for contemporary Tibetan residents of the Tibetan Plateau. Since China implemented its reform and opened up to the world in the 1980s, Cordyceps has become a commodity with traditional medical and cultural significance. Collecting Cordyceps has also gradually replaced agriculture and husbandry as the main form of production in the Tibetan region. Cordyceps facilitates the economic interaction between Tibetan and Han areas, and at the same time connects to the world trading system. In the transaction of cordyceps at the local markets near the source of origin,“smokescreen＂skill is sometimes adopted by the merchants to make a higher-than-normal profit. This article regards the skill as a social relationship and cultural practice essential for survival. The research analyzes the Cordyceps economy of the well-known production area, Muzha (pseudonym), on the Tibetan Plateau. It points out the survival ethics embedded in the local interpersonal network, thereby aiding in understanding the interactions between inter-ethnic groups, pre-capitalist and capitalist societies, as well as between local and national. Tibetan merchants in Muzha leverage cultural conditions and interpersonal networks to shape the distinct ethnic economy of the industry and foster ethnic cooperation, which mitigates competition and prevents absorption by large-scale capital from Han regions. Such economic practice has consolidated the advantages of Tibetan merchants in the local area, thus demonstrating their agency.