明清民国时期镇的名实与类型再考察——以山西泽潞地区为例

Re-Examination of Meaning and Type of Towns During the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China:Taking Zelu Area in Shanxi as an Example

以明清民国时期山西省域内"镇"分布较为密集的泽潞地区为例,集中探讨了镇的判定标准与类型两个问题。通过考察认识到,这一时期镇之得名并无统一的判定标准,一个聚落只要人口多且集中,工商产业比较发达,非农比例较高,就可以称为镇,但是否冠以镇名,则充满随意性。在经济性质的镇之外,还有一类关隘或堡寨等防卫性质的聚落,居于势险之地,通常会有军队或官司的派驻,因沿袭了前代镇的军事意义,也有被称为镇的现象,但数量很少,并不典型。

The criteria and types of towns were discussed, taking Zelu area in Shanxi Province as an example, which had a dense distribution of “towns” during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China. Through investigation, it is recognized that there was no uniform criterion for the name of a town in this period. A settlement can be called a town as long as its population was large and concentrated, its industrial and commercial industries were relatively developed, and its non-agricultural proportion was relatively high, but whether it was named a town or not was random. Beyond the towns of economic nature, there was also a kind of defensive settlements, such as passes or fortresses, in dangerous places, usually with troops or lawsuits stationed. Because of the military significance of the previous towns, they were also called towns, but the number was very small and not typical.