中国古代镖局的起源及其兴盛——兼及标兵与镖局之关系

The Origin and Booming of the Escort Agencies in Ancient China

镖局故事因道光以降说部演义小说及近现代武侠小说的流行而为普通大众所熟知,然镖局起源则众说纷纭。"标兵"指明代军事将领或地方文武统帅亲自率领的中军,既有护卫统帅之责,后又被广泛用于护卫军饷。镖局是明清两代通行于北方的一种职业护卫组织,职责在于负责保障远行商旅的安全。镖局源头有二:一是起源于至松江府贩卖标布的"标客"与"标行",时间大约为明万历末年至崇祯初年;二是起源于明代的"标兵",时间早则在明嘉靖以后,晚则在明隆庆、万历时期。至清代,镖局遂达臻全盛。

With the popularity of Romance novels after the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty,the escort agency stories are well known among the general public.However,scholars have different opinions about the origin of the Escort,and inconclusive.'Pacesetters'refer to the military generals or soldiers led by local civil and military commanders in the Ming Dynasty.They assumed the responsibility of guarding the security of the commander,and later the mission of military expenditures.Escort agency is a professional protection organization,widespread in northern China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties with safeguarding travel business as its duty.There are two sources of the escort agency.One is originated from the'draper'and'fabric firm',who sold cloth in Songjiang region,roughly between the end of Wanli period to the early Chongzhen period in the Ming Dynasty.The other is originated from the'Pacesetters'of the Ming Dynasty,at the time as early as late Zhengtong period,or as late as in Jiajing and Wanli periods.By the Qing Dynasty,the escort agency reached the heyday.