“业佃”关系与官民关系——传统社会与租佃制再认识之二

The relationship of "Landlord and Tenant" and the Relationship of Official and Gvilian: Re-Cognition to Traditional Society and Renting System, Part Two

关于中国传统乡村中的租佃制度及其中的主—佃关系,以往存在两种截然相反但都是影响很大的说法:一种是“中国封建社会”的租佃对立,极力强调地主在这种关系中的优势;一种是“中国文化本位”的乡村和谐,把乡村描绘成温情脉脉的大家庭。整体看来,关于中国传统社会的“租佃”神话和“宗族”神话,在理论上还是实证中恐怕都经不起深究。如果说传统农村中佃农的处境未必像过去一些著述说的那么绝望,那么自耕农的境况则未必像另一些著述说的那么值得向往。传统农村并不是一团和气的桃花源,但是危机的根源何在,是专制制度还是民间的租佃关系,值得认真研究。

There have been two influential but totally different views on the renting system and the landlord-tenant relationship in traditional Chinese countryside. One holds the opposition of Landlord and tenant in ＂Chinese feudal society＂, the other holds that it is a harmony in countryside of ＂Chinese Cultural＂. The worth-studying issues are the roots of crises, and whether it is a monarchy system or a civil relationship of landlord and tenant.