灾疫与钱价——货币史视角下的清代灾疫救助

Disaster and Money Price——Disaster Relief in the Qing Dynasty from the Perspective of Currency

清代实行白银与铜钱并行的货币制度,灾疫的发生扰乱了灾疫地正常货币流通秩序,使银钱兑价短时发生巨大波动。兑价所呈"银贱钱贵"程度往往与灾疫烈度、范围成正相关。随灾疫烈度加深、范围扩大,灾疫地与提供救援省份的银钱兑价亦产生联动。在灾疫地,"银贱钱贵"与物价快速上涨相结合,对当地人民经济生活形成双重压力。救灾时以银为主的货币投放进一步加剧"银贱钱贵",不仅于灾民无所实惠,同时也削弱经济救助效果。由是,稳定的货币金融环境,强有力的政府调度,科学合理的货币供给减灾措施当是灾疫救助的重要保障。

The Qing Dynasty used both silver and copper coins at the same time.The occurrence of the disaster disrupted the normal order of currency circulation in the local area,causing the exchange value of silver and copper coins to fluctuate greatly within a short period of time.As the scope of the epidemic expanded and the level deepened,the linkage between the disaster area and the rescue area in money exchange rate was intensified.The depreciation of silver and the appreciation of copper coins,combined with rising prices of commodities,doubled the pressures on the lives of local residents.During the disaster relief,the silver-dominated currency injection method further exacerbated the depreciation of silver,which not only failed to provide civilians with benefits,but also weakened the relief effect.Therefore,a stable monetary and financial environment,strong government regulation,and scientific monetary supply measures are important guarantees for disaster relief.