“肆言”与“肆权”:清末己亥“废立”流言的形成及影响

Abuse of Public Opinion and Abuse of Power:Formation and Influence of Rumor about“Depose Emperor Guangxu”in the End of the Qing Dynasty

1898年戊戌政变之后,“光绪被害”“择定新君”“择期禅让”等流言在报刊的加持下肆意散播。在危机应对过程中,清廷与新党围绕“圣躬”的安危,各自制造流言向对方施加舆论压力。1900年初清廷颁布立嗣诏书,新党立即揭露“立嗣即废立”的本质,并公开号召武力勤王。面对新党的“肆言”,清廷以“肆权”应对,不仅厉行报禁,查拿报人,还出台一系列“不得诋毁宫廷”的报律。己亥“废立”显示出作为最古老的媒介,流言不仅仅构成一种社会现象,更应被视为一种与现代媒介融合而成的一种新力量,其在近代中国历史建构中的意义亟待重新认识。

After the Coup d'Etat of 1898,rumors such as“Emperor Guangxu was murdered”,“a new emperor has been chosen”and“the date of abdication has been determined”were spread widely by newspapers.In the process of crisis response,the Qing Government and the Reformer exerted the pressure of public opinion on each other by creating rumors.After The Imperial Edict about the Heir was issued by the royal court in early 1900,the Reformers pointed out that the Heir is actually deposed by the Emperor,and called for protection of the Emperor by the army.In the face of“abuse of public opinion”by the Reformers,the Qing Government responded with“abuse of power”,not only by imposing a ban on newspapers,arresting journalists but also by issuing a series of press laws that prohibited“slander of the royal court”.It shows that,as the oldest medium,rumors shall be regarded as not only a social phenomenon but also a new force fused with modern media,whose significance in the construction of modern Chinese history needs to be reassessed.