从钞立财入到钞衰财竭、钞银易位:明代财政危机形成的货币思考

Rethinking Late Ming’s Fiscal Crisis through the Lens of Monetary System

明初基于财政目的构建的宝钞货币体系,在国家财政运作中一度扮演重要角色。前期中央通过实物银钱折钞、宝钞折支以及增税扩税等举措,使得国家财政收支形态呈现局部"钞化",成为该时期实物型财政体制的重要补充。然而,明代钞法摒弃了宋元时代的部分良好制度,缺乏维系信用的必要金融机制,宝钞贬值不可避免。明代中叶以来,随着钞法的崩坏,依托宝钞维系的财政货币运作体制趋于解体,政府财力大量流失。成化、弘治时期的国家财政面临"支钞不行""征钞无用"的运作危机,财政运作的货币形态出现白银化转向。但受制于该时期国内白银储量不足的现实,国家财政运作机制又面临新的问题。故从货币与财政关系的视角观察,始于成、弘时期的明代财政危机,是一场财政、货币转型等多重压力下的危机呈现,其内容多以"钞法不行""银竭"为指向。

The monetary system known as Baochao played a significant role in the early Ming’s financial system. It facilitated the monetarization of Ming’s revenue and expenditure. Nevertheless,Baochao declined inevitably and ceased to function in the mid-Ming. In order to deal with the crisis,the monetary system relied on silver instead. But the lack of silver brought about new problems. The financial crisis in the Chenghua and Hongzhi reigns shed revealing light on the pressures resulting from the monetary and fiscal transformations.