晚清广东的"公局"--士绅控制乡村基层社会的权力机构

在19世纪50年代因镇压红兵起义而在广东普遍设立的公局,后来演变为广东士绅控制乡村基层社会的常设权力机构.它拥有武装,征收局费,有稽查、缉捕、审判、仲裁等权力,甚至在地方上有一定立法权,使清朝的统治得以延伸到县以下的基层社会.研究广东公局,有助于进一步深入了解晚清士绅的地位、作用以及国家与社会的关系.

"Gong Ju (Public Bureau)" of Guangdong in Late Qing Dynasty: A Power Institution to Control the Grass-roots Class in the Countryside by Gentry Class

"Gong Ju" (Public Bureau) was first set up to put down the Hong Bing (Red Soldier) Rebellion in Guangdong in 1850s. Later it became a standing power institution to control the grass-roots class in the countryside by Guangdong gentry class. It possessed its own military equipment and had the power to levy tax, to inspect, arrest, try and arbitrate. It even had legislative power in the local area, which enabled the central government's power to extend to the grass-roots class in the county districts. The study of Gong Ju of Guangdong is of great help to deepen the understanding of the status and function of gentry in the late Qing Dynasty, and of the relationship between country and society.