天人感应灾异观与近代灾荒救治——以“丁戊奇荒”为中心

The theory of the interaction between the heaven and the man and the relief works in modern China:based on the study of the great drought in early Guangxu's reign

天人感应灾异观是中国传统灾荒观的一种。"丁戊奇荒"时期,它对救灾产生了一定影响。首先,它使灾荒中以皇帝为中心的祈祷活动盛行。其次,它使人们在灾荒中注重"修德"。作为传统的灾荒观,它在近代受到了基督教的冲击,但是没有发生根本性改变。天人感应灾异观一方面可以促使皇帝重视救灾,并对安定民心有一定作用。另一方面,由于过分强调灾荒的原因在于人事以及救灾过程中祈祷和道德层面原因的重要性,最终会使人们丧失救灾的主动性。

The theory of the interaction between the heaven and the man is one of Chinese traditional famine ideas. It had great influence on the relief works at the great drought in early Guangxu＇ s reign. For one thing, it made the prayer, especially the emperor＇s prayer, be prevalent. For another, it made people be strict in their moral. This traditional idea was attacked by Christianity in modem society, but it did not change in fundamental. On the one hand, this theory could make the emperor pay attention to the relief work and settle down the situation. On the other hand, people would lose their initiative in relief works because of laying emphasis on the importance of prayer and moral.