《莆田人民公控蒋唐佑呈稿》所见清末生员与恶吏的斗争

The interest dispute between local gentry and illegal official in the Late Qing Dynasty——an analysis of Putian renmin gong kong Jiang Tang-you chenggao

《莆田人民公控蒋唐佑呈稿》记录了一起生员联合控官案,属于民告官的案件,该案完整展示了地方恶吏倚仗自己的权势,操弄法律条文,屡屡滥用法律解释权与执行权,并寻求官官相护,欲置控告他的生员们于被动局面的过程。清代虽然号称立法严整,但在某些地区,法律明显地被州县官员任意打扮成维护自己统治的工具,以生员为主体的民间力量既然祭起告官的旗帜,却也展示了自己的知识积累,抗争亦显得有理有节,抗争的过程既是州县官吏罪恶昭彰的过程,也成为民众自我保护意识增强的一种训练。

Putian renmin gong kong Jiang Tang -you chenggao is a book which recorded a case about the local gentry＇ s complaint against the illegal official. This lawsuit reveals the whole process of the illegal local official＇ s abuse of codex. In order to purse their private interests, the local official not only make free with the legal deficiencies, but also shield each other. As a result, the gentry always fell helpless if they got in trouble with the official. The Qing Dynasty＇ s legal system is known as perfect, but this case indicates that legal is only a tool of the dominator＇ s private pursuit. In order to complaint against the illegal official, the gentry take advantage of their knowledge and influence, and unite all kinds of forces to fight against the illegal official until the last minute. The process of this struggle not only reveals the illegal official＇ s evidences, but also strengthens the common people＇ s self - protection awareness.