牧厂之靖——嘉庆时期察哈尔地方黄芪的采挖、贸易与律例调适

Harvesting, Trade and Regulation Adjustment of Astragalus in Chahar Area in the Jiaqing Period

清代察哈尔地方盛产可延年益寿的黄芪,颇受内地民人青睐,但清廷在蒙古地区厉行封禁政策,内地民人只能私赴口外活动。把尔头(雇主)带领山东、山西、直隶等内地民人,在察哈尔地方民众协助下挖采黄芪,始于乾隆年间,盛于嘉庆时期。所获黄芪或在当地囤积售卖,或驮载偷运入关分销各地,直隶祁州便是药材周转枢纽之一。察哈尔黄芪的采挖一定程度上破坏了草场,损害马政、易滋事端,但也促进了边疆地区的药材资源开发,增进了不同民族区域的经济文化交流。嘉庆时期清廷对内地民人私采黄芪的行为由放任默许转为积极管控,推动了律例完善和社会变迁。

In the Qing dynasty, the Chahar region was rich in astragalus, which could prolong life and was popular among people in the mainland. However, the Qing government strictly enforced the policy of prohibition in Mongolia, so inland people could only venture outside the Great Wall illegally.Bartou led Zhili, Shandong, Shanxi and other inland people to dig and collect astragalus together with the local Manchu and Mongolian people, which began in the Qianlong period and flourished in the Jiaqing period. They hoarded and sold astragalus locally, or smuggled it through customs for distribution, Qizhou in Zhili became a hub for the trade. To a certain extent, the harvesting of Chahar astragalus could destroy grassland, was harmful to the administration of horses, and caused disputes, but the trade also promoted the development of medicinal materials resources in border areas and enhanced economic and cultural exchanges between different ethnic regions. The Qing government changed its attitude towards the private harvest of astragalus from laissez-faire to active control, which promoted the perfection of regulations and social change.