束鹿县张氏契约文书中的“中人”及“尺丈”探析

An Analysis of “Zhongren” and “Chizhang” in Zhang’s Contractual Documents of Shulu County

“中人”“尺丈”是古代契约文书中不可缺少的组成部分,束鹿县张氏契约文书历时300多年,每份契约文书中都有“中人”参与,其“中人”角色多由买卖双方亲族、地邻及当地乡村有“面子”之人担任,以完成居间介绍、评议价格、见证交易过程、保证双方履行责任义务等工作。不仅如此,至乾隆中期还从“中人”中脱颖而出了专门推步丈量土地的“尺丈”,“尺丈”与“中人”协同完成土地买卖交割的整个过程,这表明契约文书的操作日趋规范化。张氏契约文书中的“中人”及“尺丈”为研究清代及民国中国北方乡村社会提供了一手原始资料。

“Zhongren”and“Chizhang”(the middleman)are an indispensable part of the ancient contract documents.The Zhang’s contractual documents in Shulu County have a history of more than 300 years,with“Zhongren”playing a role in each contractual document,whichisoften taken by relatives,neighbors,and someone who has“face”in local village.Their major responsibilities are to complete the work of introduction,evaluation of prices,witness the transaction process,and ensuring that both parties perform their responsibilities and obligations.In the middle of the Qianlong period,another name called“Chizhang”came from“Zhongren”,who specializes in measuring the land.The“Chizhang”and“Zhongren”cooperated to complete the entire process of land purchase.This shows that the operation of contract has become increasingly standardized.“Zhongren”and“Chizhang”in the Zhang's contractual documents provided first-handmaterial for the study of rural society in the northern China of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.