从《歧路灯》看中国封建社会由盛转衰的征兆——以政治、经济为考察范围

On the Symptoms of Feudal Society from Prosperity to Decline through The Lamp for Forked Roads

《歧路灯》是中国18世纪一部现实主义著作,它真实地反映了当时广阔的社会生活,在社会史学方面具有极高的价值。小说寄言明嘉靖朝事,实言被誉为盛世的清康、雍、乾三代之事——盛世的繁华已经无法遮掩日趋暴露的腐朽,康乾盛世的背后其实早已是危机四伏:政治上吏治腐败现象严重,经济上府库亏空与商品经济冲击并存,这些迹象都成为中国封建社会由盛转衰的征兆。上述现象的交合作用,加速了当时社会走向沉沦的脚步,撼动了封建社会的上层建筑,动摇了封建王朝的根基。

As a realistic novel in the 18th century, The Lamp for Forked Roads faithfully reflects the wide social life at that time and is of high value in social history. This novel actually recounts what were in the days of emperor Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong of Qing dynasty through seemingly narrating what were in the time of emperor Jiajing of Ming dynasty. Behind the social prosperity in the days of emperor Kangxi and Qianlong was the increasing decadence which could not be folded any more serious depravity in politics and in economy, the coexistence of commercial economy＇s impact and deficit finance, all of which were the symptoms of feudal society from prosperity to decline. The blend of the above mentioned phenomena speeds up the society＇s decline, shakes the upper infrastructure of feudal society and rocks the groundwork of feudal dynasty.