清末山东莱阳民变考——财政视角下的论析

Civil Commotion in Laiyang of Shandong Province during the Late Qing Dynasty:An Analysis from the Financial Perspective

清末新政时期,政府大力进行各项改革,这一时期也是民变风起云涌、此起彼伏的时期。在此期间爆发的莱阳民变震惊朝野。追溯历史,每一历史事件的背后都有着多方面的原因,莱阳民变爆发绝非偶然,有其形成的根本原因。在新政改革中莱阳财政状况极度窘迫,聚财无门而又点金乏术,只好把苛征暴敛、强制增捐加税等手段作为聚敛新政经费的手段,使乡民深陷困苦的深渊,再加上天灾人祸,民变便一发而不可收拾。若能深入历史时境,探寻清末新政时期莱阳民变的历史真实,意义非同小可,可以给我们现代人以深刻的启迪。

The period of New Policies of the late Qing Dynasty witnessed many radical reforms carried out by the Qing government, and also many raging waves of civil commotions, including the one taking place in Laiyang, Shangdong Province, which greatly shocked the government and people. Historically speaking, occurrence of each historical event has its own causes, and the civil commotion in Laiyang no exception. During the period of New Policies, Laiyang, trapped in financial predicament, was unable to make and accumulate money, so it had no choice but to extort heavy taxes and levies, making people fall into the abyss of difficulties and hardships. Besides, natural and man-made disasters caused the civil commotion out of hand. Therefore, it is important to study the historical context of the commotion, which will surely bring some profound enlightenment to us.