清代步军统领番役功能演变与社会权力结构变迁

The Evolution of the Functions of Fanyi in the Land Force and the Transition of Social Power Structure in the Qing Dynasty

步军统领衙门番役处于京师治安的第一线,其职能和角色的演变折射着清代历史环境的变迁:清代中前期,番役在缉拿盗贼、追捕逃人等方面发挥了重要作用,是统治者维护京师安定的重要力量。乾隆中期以后,随着阶级矛盾的激化,番役在缉捕中的作用日益突出,统治者的依赖性愈强,番役也越发肆无忌惮,番贼勾结、敲诈勒索等事件屡禁不止,逐渐演变为破坏京师安定的毒瘤。番役的嬗变,固然有统治者管治方法上的失误,但实质是清代中后期王朝控制力弱化在底层社会中的反映。

The group of Fanyi in the land force were on the front line of Beijing s stabilization,the revolution of whose functions and roles had reflected the changes of historical environment in the Qing Dynasty.Fanyi had played important roles in arresting thieves and pursuing fugitives in the early and middle of Qing Dynasty,and was an important power for the government to maintain the stability of Beijing.After the middle of the reign of Emperor Qianlong,along with the intensification of class conflicts,Fanyi s functions in arresting people were gradually highlighted and relied on by the government,and they became unscrupulous and unruly in colliding with thieves and racketeering,so they became the hampers for Beijing s stability.This transformation,of course,was the result of governance method mistake.However,in essence,it was a reflection of the weakening of the imperial court s control in the underclass in the middle and late Qing Dynasty.