英国近代早期“政治性的四旬斋”运动探微

Exploration of the"Political Lent" Movement during Early Modern England

在英国近代早期的特殊时代氛围下,原本作为基督教的宗教斋戒仪式的四旬斋被赋予了浓重的政治和经济色彩,被冠之为"政治性的四旬斋"。在当时的社会公共生活中,四旬斋备受国家立法的关注和重视。究其实质,"政治性的四旬斋"首先是近代英国政府所奉行的重商主义对内政策的重要组成部分;其次,该政策亦是当时英国囿于国情和外部国际环境压力所采取的一种无奈之举;最后,其不过是对宗教改革之前的英国民众饮食文化传统的一种变相恢复而已。关于其实施后果,该运动对当时英国政治、经济生活及民众日常生活都产生了一定影响。它既在客观上促进了英国渔业的发展,并刺激了英国航海业乃至海军的发展,还在一定程度上通过限制富人的消费改善了穷人的生活境况。但囿于其非常化、权宜性和理想化色彩过重的缺陷,它的影响最终是较为有限的。

The Lent,a religious fast originally,was vested with strong political and economic colors and named as 'political Lent' in early modern England.In public social life,the Lent was paid attentioned to and highly emphasized by state legislation.In other words,it was politicized and economized by state power.In essence,the 'political Lent' was an important part of mercantilist policy of modern England government;a reluctant action forced by inner circumstances of England and pressure from European rivals;the restoration of the common diet tradition before the English Reformation in disguised form.The 'political Lent' had certain impacts on both British political and economical lives and daily life of the Englishmen.Firstly,it promoted the development of English fishery;Secondly,it stimulated the expansion of English navigation and navy.Furthermore,it improved the living condition of the poor by means of restricting the consumption of the rich to some extent.Its eventual impact was quite limited by its extremity,expediency and over-ideality.