明末清初江南的棉布交易机制与银钱使用--以松江府为中心

Cotton Trading Mechanism and Money Currency in the Area of the Lower Changjiang Valley from the 16th Century to the 17th Century

明代中后期松江地区的土布业因秦晋北边的商人边官大量采购而兴盛,支撑如此巨额需求的乃是国家财政。清代则不然,康熙时期蓬勃发展的商业资本——棉布字号以商业运营的方式重新整合江南市场,它们吸纳国家需求,联系各个原料产地,同时掌握全国性贸易,棉布的发售中心也逐渐转移到苏州。在这一过程中,棉布大宗贸易始终以银结算,小民缴纳赋税也始终需要足色银,而民间通用的交易货币却发生了从铜钱到称量银的变化,看似国家财政与市场行为将更富联动性。然而,康熙年间将纳税用银与交易用银明令区分,实际上是国家色彩进一步从棉布交易中淡化、市场更加自由的体现。

In the late 16 th century, cotton textile industry rapidly developed in Songjiangdue to its huge demand in north border area. Merchants at that time, carried with millions of strong silver currency,were generally from Shanxi or Shaanxi and they transported cotton cloth for government.It was national power who supported that kind of boom. However, anew commercial power rose in the middle and later period of the 17 th century, and they began to establish their own brand, integrated the whole district of the Lower Changjian valley by purchas-ing cotton textile indifferent towns. In addition, when people adjusted themselves to silver currency in daily business, the Qing government issued policy to distinguish silver currency used in business and tax. The whole process indicates that the power of government became weaker while a real market was forming.