民国以来士绅权力探析(1913—1954)——以苏州救火联合会为个案的考察

The Power of the Local Gentry Since the Republic of China(1913-1954)——Taking the Fire Federation in Suzhou as a Case

士绅阶层是中国传统时期地方社会结构中的重要组成部分,它在基层社会的地位非常重要。对于士绅权力的转型,学界的看法并不一致,有的认为在近代有所加强,有的认为已经衰落。笔者认为,这应该与特定时空背景下的士绅阶层各自实际状况及其所处的社会环境紧密关联。本文通过对苏州救火联合会发展历程的考察表明,在民间救火组织的创办及争取救火联合会合法存在过程中,地方士绅发挥了极其关键的作用,官民之间上通下达的"双轨制"依然畅通;清末废科举之举并未迅速消除士绅的影响,直至民国时期,士绅依然在地方社会事务中发挥着极大的作用。

The local gentry are an important part of the traditional social structure, it＇s very important in the grass- root society. There is no consistent view on the transition of gentry＇s power; some believe that it has been strengthened in recent times, and some think it have been in decline that time. I think, it is related to the actual status and social envi- ronment where gentry are in specific time and space. Based on investigation of the development process of the Fire Feder- ation in Suzhou, we can find that the local gentry played a crucial role in the founder of civil society organizations and the fire fighting, in which the pass issued as ＂dual track＂ is still smooth between the government and the people. It is visible that the abolition of the imperial examination in the late Qing Dynasty did not quickly eliminate the influence of the gentry; the gentry still plays a significant role in the local community affairs until the Republican period.