A Multi-Layer System and Its Features: Reconceptualizing the Monetary Regime of Late Qing and Modern China

This essay aims to reconceptualize the monetary regime of late Qing and modern China as a multilayer system of currencies and examine the features and logics of its operation from the 16th century to early 20th century. We argue that this system consists of a variety of silver and copper currencies, each occupying a particular layer in the structure and each satisfying a specific market demand. Analyzing the production and circulation of copper and silver currencies, we first trace their evolution from the Qing to the Republican era and demonstrate the multi-layer currency structure persisted in China across the modernizing changes that took place at the end of the 19th century. Second, using data drawn from gazetteers, this essay adopts a quantitative approach to empirically examine the mechanism and speed of interactions between the different layers of the monetary market and reveal the operational mechanism of the multi-layer system. We suggest that this multi-layer system, while bringing some efficiency loss, also constituted an effective institutional arrangement that helped to ensure the stability of the Chinese economy in tumultuous times.     

唐代后期江南郡斋园林选址类型及风貌 研究

“郡斋”作为州郡衙署内长官住宅，多附有园林绿化。唐代后期江南郡斋园林生成于山川秀美、经济繁荣、充满文气的大背景下。以唐郡斋诗及后代方志为资料来源，对唐贞元四年(788年)后浙西、浙东观察使所辖13州郡斋园林的选址和景观要素进行考据。根据选址地形，将其分为山岳型和平原型2类：山岳型郡斋园林随山势高下，呈现出山林野趣的景观风貌；平原型郡斋园林追求在城市中营造闲适幽静的所在。最后通过对苏州郡斋园林进行考据，进一步充实对平原型郡斋园林的认知。唐后期江南郡斋园林的景观风貌持续影响着后世的江南治所园林。     

Descendants over 300 years: Marital fertility in five lineages in Qing China

This paper studies the marital fertility—broadly defined as the ratio of live births to married women—of five Chinese lineages since the 17th century, mainly in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). The results demonstrate a unique pattern of Chinese marital fertility by exploiting new genealogical data and studying more than 50,000 individuals from five lineages. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the marital fertility rates in the period were moderate. On the other hand, in line with the classic ideas, this paper finds no clear indication of two fertility controls within marriages, parity-dependent early stopping and longer spacing.     

清代皇家园林“南风”主题景点的 园景构筑与文化内涵阐释

《南风歌》最早记载于中国先秦典籍中，全文蕴含 了虞舜歌“南风”以煦育百姓、顺应天时物性而治天下的美好 象征。随着《南风歌》的传颂，以该典故为主题问名的建筑景 点大量出现于中国古典园林尤其是清代皇家园林中。首先考辨 了“舜歌南风”典故的历史源流，挖掘其在流传过程中所衍生 的文化内涵。继而对以“南风”主题问名于我国古代园林建筑 的历史面貌进行爬梳，重点以清代皇家园林中的“南风”主题 景点为例，围绕“薰风解愠”和“对时育物”2个角度探析其 在园景构筑与文化内涵阐释层面对“南风”主题的表达。结论 证明“南风”意象主题景点是中国古典园林尤其是清代皇家园 林中的一类重要景观类型。     

现代“公债”概念的生成及其在晚清民初的流播

中国古代曾有国家举债之事,但无论是从观念还是制度上看,都并非现代财政意义上的“公债”。经过相关人士的译介,现代财政意义上的“公债”概念渐为晚清社会所知晓。“公债”的词义亦经历了由古至今与中西交汇的转换与融合演进过程。“公债”概念形成与演进的过程,同时也是清廷财政变革的实践过程。甲午战后,朝野逐渐对公债举借背后所关涉的国家财政制度、债权关系、国家信用等问题进行了较为深入的讨论。晚清民初,现代意义的“公债”概念以及知识与制度体系逐步被塑造和建构起来。在国家财政制度剧烈转型之时,清廷亦展开了公债发行的艰难尝试与制度移植。     

导民善法，实业良伴——清末社会变革 前夕武汉地区自创公园倡议与实践

中国近代公园的产生和发展是一个不断将西方公园 理论与实践成果融入各地特殊的自然、经济、社会、文化情 境，并不懈改良与创新的本土化过程，由此形成近代公园鲜明 的本土特色。以清末社会变革前夕，洋务运动重镇武汉的公园 营建倡议及相关实践活动为研究对象，通过对其早期公园计划 与营建的背景、内容、成效、局限等的溯源考察，探讨晚清 公园理念与实践萌动之时的内容和特征，尝试对本土“公园” 概念的最初形成过程及影响因素进行分析，总结特殊历史情 境下中国近代公园的本土化路径。清末官方进行的公园建设相 关的探索、尝试，奠定了中国近代公园除娱乐属性以外的“教 育”“商贸”“科研”等一系列重要特征，并使得公园作为 “文明”“进步”象征的理念得以广泛传播。厘清这一历史过 程对深刻理解中国近代园林嬗变的内在动因具有积极意义。