英租时期威海卫乡(村)规民约论纲

Folk Regulations in the U. K. leasehold of Weihaiwei

英租时期(1898—1930)威海卫的乡(村)规民约内容极其丰富,类型异常繁多,地域特色十分鲜明,时效性强,还具有一定的模糊性和变通性。一般是由居住于该地域范围内的村董、总董以及乡绅阶层共同发起、协商制订的,也有以宗族名义制订的族规、家法类乡规民约,还有一些是由一些民间组织制定的。这些乡(村)规民约事实上就是英租时期威海卫乡村社会的习惯法,具有规范、互助和奖惩等功能,它起到了维持威海卫乡村社会既定秩序、维系国家与乡村社会的互动,进而为维护乡村社会稳定发挥了重要作用。

Folk regulations in the U.K. leasehold of Weihaiwei serve as the common regulations observed by the group of people living in the same specific rural area. Formulated through discussion by a group of organized people, these regulations play an important role in acting as the link between government and villages and in keeping the order, the stability of the rural areas in Weibaiwei.