清末广东会党、绿林活动述略

A Brief Account of the Gangs and Outlaws in the Late Qing Dynasty

清末十年,广东从传统社会向近代社会加速转型,官绅对城乡控制能力减弱,社会普遍动荡不安,造成会党、绿林十分活跃。广东会党作为革命党的同盟者和雇佣军,为辛亥革命作出了重大贡献,但也存在着不少问题;作为“乱民”和“土匪”,既是清王朝的反抗者,又是一般民众的劫掠者。

In the last decade of the Qing Dynasty Guangdong was undergoing a process of transforming from the traditional society to a modern one with the decreasing of the power and influence of the bureaucrats over the towns and villages. The social turmoil resulted in the springing up of gangs and outlaws. Some of the gangs made great contributions to the Xinghai Revolution but at the same time posed lots of problems. As riots and bandits they were rebellions against the Qing Dynasty and plunders of the people.