清代闽西客家的乡族自治传统——《培田吴氏族谱》研究

在中国传统社会中,实行以家族组织为基础的乡族自治,曾经是许多政治家和思想家的社会理想。在不同的时代与不同的地区,由于客观历史条件的限制,乡族自治的形式与内容不尽相同。所谓乡族自治,是指在国家法律和官府授权之下,对乡族事务实行自我管理;在聚族而居的社会环境中,乡族自治主要表现为家族自治。解读福建省长汀县培田吴氏家族的族谱资料,可以发现闽西客家的乡族自治传统,与晚清地方自治有历史渊源。培田吴氏的家训、家法与族规,体现了家族自治的理想模式。培田吴氏的各大支派和社团组织,对乡族公共事务和公益事业实行了有效的管理。清末新政期间成立的"培田公益社",取代了乡约的行政职能,实现了从家族自治向地方自治的历史转型。

The Tradition of Local-Lineage Autonomy among the Hakka in Western Hokkien——A Case Study of The genealogies of the Wu lineage in Peitian

In order to better understand the historical origin of local lineage autonomy(乡族)in Late Qing,this article,largely based on The Genealogies of the Wu Lineage in Peitian,Changting County,investigates the tradition of local-lineage autonomy among the Hakka in this area of western Hokkien.Although many statesmen and intellectuals,beginning in the Northern Song,attempted to carry out "local-lineage" autonomy based on the lineage structure,this article argues that the form of such autonomy was quite variegated and depended on the specific historical conditions.Therefore,empirical and comparative studies are needed to understand how such local autonomy was actually carried out.The Wu lineage,which had lived together for a long time,achieved local-lineage autonomy largely through relying on the lineage structure.Within the confines of the national law and governing authorities,the Wu lineage tried to manage lineage affairs through family instructions,family discipline,and lineage regulations.The Wu lineage’s success represents an ideal model of lineage autonomy.The branches and associations of the Wu lineage possessed wealth and effectively managed communal affairs and public welfare.For example,the Peitian Public Welfare Association,established during the New Deal period of Late Qing,replaced the administrative functions of the communal compacts and reflected the historical transformation from lineage autonomy to local autonomy.