清代保障商旅安全的法律机制——以《西江政要》为例

Legal Mechanisms for Protecting Business Travel in the Qing Dynasty: The Example of Xijiang Zhengyao

商旅安全是商业社会非常重要的社会问题 ,直接关系到市场的形成和稳定。根据商旅行程的基本规律 ,要确保其安全 ,关键是规范陆路脚夫、水路船户和歇店的法律责任。本文通过引用清代《西江政要》中的法律文本和案例 ,分析了清代保障商旅安全的法律措施的运用情况 ,藉以对我国封建社会后期商业运行机制及其管理办法进行探讨 ,对目前我国建立和完善市场经济主体的责任归属问题 ,提供一个历史参照。

Safety of business travel was an important social issue in commercial society, and was of primary importance to the formation and stability of the market. To ensure safety, the basic rules and laws governing business travel established norms regarding the legal responsibilities of porters, boatmen and innkeepers. This paper analyzes the legal statutes and some cases from the Xijiang Zhengyao, that involved regulations concerning business travel safety adopted in Qing Dynasty. The article discusses the commercial operations and administration in the later stages of China's feudal society to shed historical light on the present day settlement of issues concerning the allocation of responsibilities among economic principals.