明末大饥荒实因人祸考

On Reason of the Large Famine in Late Ming Dynasty

明朝末年发生了连续十余年的大饥荒 ,其严重程度为历史所罕见 ,尤以北方最为严重。以前 ,人们大都相信了官方的有关记载 ,认为这场大饥荒乃旱蝗等自然灾害所致。但仔细考察一下历史就会发现 ,明末政治腐败 ,三饷 (辽饷、剿饷、练饷 )加征和各种苛捐杂税迫使农民大规模流亡 ,良田被大量抛荒 ,水利不修 。

A large famine happened and lasted for more than ten years in late Ming Dynasty,which hit northern China most badly.This was one of the most serious famines in Chinese history.Over a long period most people believed the record made by officials and thought the famine was caused by drought,plague of locusts,and other natural disasters.However,after careful study we may find that it was a result of many other factors.They included political corruption,soldiers′ three kinds of pay and provisions for defending against Nüzhen nationality,suppressing domestic uprisings and military drillings,peasants′ going into exile to escape various exorbitant taxes and levies,desolation of fertile land as well as irrigation works being out of pair.So,as soon as they analyze the issue people will be suddenly enlightened:it was man made calamities but natural disasters that mainly caused the large famine in late Ming Dynasty.