清代前期海洋分界问题再讨论

On the Question of Maritime Demarcation in the Early Qing Dynasty:A Further Analysis

清代内外洋划分制度经历了康熙后期创始,康熙末年成型,雍正以后有所发展的历程。清政府划分内外洋的初衷,是为了明确海洋盗案法律责任。各省确定内外洋范围的方法,主要是以海岸、岛礁、港湾、墩汛等重要地理标志物作为内外洋名及内外洋分界线。由于缺乏科学测绘手段,清代对于内外洋的具体划分并不十分精确,但符合当时官民对海洋的认知水平,能够帮助盗案事主与地方官弁迅速确定事发地点,并明确地方州县与水师官弁的法律责任。通过内外洋划分及一系列相关制度,清政府对中国海域实施了有效的管辖权。

The system to demarcate neiyang(inner seas)and waiyang(outer seas)during the Qing Dynasty developed in several stages.It started in the late Kangxi period,matured towards the end of the Kangxi period,and developed further after the Yongzheng period.The original intention was to clarify the legal responsibilities of maritime cases.In order to distinguish the inner and outer seas,the coastal provinces mainly used important landmarks such as coasts,islands and reefs,harbors,and dunxun(coastal defense areas garrisoned by soldiers)as their names and boundaries.Due to the lack of scientific methods for surveying and mapping,the Qing government could not mark the boundaries precisely.However,the system was in line with official and people’s understanding about the sea at that time.Based on this system,the victims of the robbery and local officials could quickly identify the location of an incident as well as the legal responsibilities of the local officials and navy officials.Through the demarcation system and other related rules,the Qing government implemented effective jurisdiction over China’s waters.