As the last feudal dynasty, the Qing Dynasty not only inherited the measures of banning mines in the previous dynasty, but also changed its mining management with the constant contact with the economy and culture of western countries. From the beginning of Qing dynasty to the end of Qing dynasty, the policy was also formulated from prohibiting mining to allowing mining to a certain extent, but the process of this transformation was very long.
The Evolution of Mining Policy in Shunkang Period
When the Qing regime was in Manchuria, in order to strengthen its economic strength, it was generally allowed to mine gold and silver mines. After entering the customs, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty mainly paid attention to how to develop agricultural production, stabilize society and consolidate political rule. Therefore, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and other minerals are basically prohibited. For example, in the second year of Shunzhi, the Qing court closed the famous Shan Zhi Silver Mine in Zhaoyuan, Shandong.
In December of the ninth year of Shunzhi, the Ministry of Industry said: "It is no good for the country to investigate that poor officials mined at a loss during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It is extremely worrying that poor officials take the opportunity to make profits, swindle and swindle everywhere, dig graves and destroy people's fields. The former is very clear and should be strictly prohibited. " The emperor shunzhi approved the suggestion of the Ministry of Industry, and the mining ban policy of the Qing Dynasty officially began, which lasted until the middle of the Kangxi Dynasty.
In the mid-Kangxi period, the territory of the Qing Dynasty was unprecedentedly vast, the political power became more and more stable, and the social order was relatively stable. Therefore, the mining ban of the Qing court was once relaxed. At that time, many poor people, because "there was no house to live in and no land to farm", ignored the imperial ban and started mining privately. Although the Qing government blocked the mining road in the mining area, cut off grain, vegetables, grain and salt, and even sent officers and men to concentrate on driving and arresting, it was still repeatedly banned.
Therefore, in 17 13, Emperor Kangxi ordered a meeting of ministers of universities, six departments and nine departments, so that "the poor can make a small profit and support their lives" instead of "gathering people to break the law". The university students and six ministers decided to admit the fait accompli. Except Yunnan, Huguang and Shanxi provinces, it is forbidden to hire local people to mine, and the minerals in other provinces have not yet been mined. All the local poor, "now the miners are exempted from the ban, and local officials find out the names on the roster and let them open them themselves." However, it is strictly forbidden for wealthy families from other provinces to occupy mines. "
The reason why the Qing court adopted a relaxed attitude of tolerance and appeasement was mainly because these people were "poor people with no house to live in, no land to farm and no production, and they earned income every day as a health care plan." How can Iraq make a living if these poor people are banned from production? " If the Qing court suddenly banned mining, it was worried that people would be dissatisfied and might cause trouble. At the same time, I hope that if there are rich minerals, it will also increase wealth for the country.
Implementation of Mining Policy in Yong, Gan and Jia Dynasties
After Yong Zhengdi succeeded to the throne, the situation changed, and many ministers suggested opening the mine ban. However, Yong Zhengdi believes that landmines are natural. "If it is not planted by human resources, how can it be possible to raise a living? If it is profitable today, it will be easy to gather. If it is not profitable in the future, it will be difficult to disperse. " Therefore, please ask the local governors of Guangdong, Hunan, Guangxi and other provinces to ask for mining. "No one is allowed to do it, otherwise it will be strictly responsible." During the Yongzheng period, the mining ban was re-enforced.
In the early years of Qianlong, the politics of the Qing Dynasty was more consolidated and the economy was more prosperous. The demand of the whole society for money and various mineral products has increased sharply. It is imperative to mine precious metals such as gold and silver and other minerals, and the local governor has been calling on them to relax the ban on gold, silver, copper, coal and iron.
1773, Emperor Qianlong issued an edict saying: If the discovered gold mines are abandoned in the mountains, they will "stop eating because of choking", emphasizing that "gold and silver mines are the essence of real estate, and there is no reason not to reveal them." Mining is due to the natural benefits of heaven and earth, so it is necessary to add propaganda, especially to compromise for the goodness of the world. " In addition to gold, silver, copper, iron, lead and other minerals, such as coal, tin, sulfur, mercury, cinnabar, etc., restrictions have also been relaxed and allowed to be mined.
During the Qianlong period, although mine closures also occurred frequently, most of them were in border areas. According to incomplete statistics, the number of various mine disasters reported by Qianlong dynasty was higher than that of other dynasties in the early Qing dynasty.
In the first year of Jiaqing (1796), An Baili Rebellion broke out in Sichuan and Chu, and the Qing Dynasty began to decline politically and economically. This decline is also evident in the mining policy. Emperor Jiaqing believed that mining and refining must be numerous, and it would take several years to be effective. However, mining and setting up factories will inevitably "gather tourists and cause trouble." Even if the official is a manager, it is still difficult to restrain many people. If you listen to one or two businessmen, people come to me by themselves, and its disadvantages are everywhere. "
Under the attack of Anbaili Uprising, the Qing court once again banned mining. The resumption of prohibition by the Qing court lasted until the Opium War in the middle of Daoguang period. In the early years of Daoguang, the Qing court closed the gold and silver mines in Gansu, Zhili and other provinces, allegedly because "at that time, the revenue was regular and it was difficult to talk about profit." In fact, at that time, the finance of the Qing court was already stretched.
Adjustment of mining policy after the Opium War
After the Opium War, the Qing court had to pay huge military salaries and foreign reparations, and the national treasury could not make ends meet. 1844, Daoguang ordered the governors of all provinces, except the mines currently being mined, "if there are other mines that are willing to be mined, all the mines currently being mined will be treated." Four years later, Daoguang once again ordered the governors of Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi and other provinces to "move the mine with the natural benefits of heaven and earth, and the world is still rich in the people." Don't close the mine on the pretext that there are many people in the mine and it is easy to gather and disperse, but mine in areas with strong mines in various provinces.
In the imperial edict, Daoguang also warned: "If you don't move around, it is not difficult for me to send someone to re-investigate." As for whether the mine is government-run, private, commercial or other forms, "I don't want to be remote." In the 29th year of Daoguang (1849), after the county magistrate Wang Zaiquan and others agreed on four articles of association of Yunnan Mining Factory, the mine was once banned.
The Daoguang Dynasty encouraged private mining because the disadvantages of government-run mining have been fully exposed. Adopting private mining mode can not only slightly eliminate the disadvantages and losses brought by officials who take the opportunity to enrich themselves, but also do not have to worry about the losses caused by mine closure, which is quite beneficial to their financial income.
After Xianfeng succeeded to the throne, it was the time of the Taiping Rebellion. The Qing government was eager to develop all kinds of precious metal minerals because of the lack of military pay. Emperor Xianfeng issued decrees many times, saying, "When the military pay is huge and the left Tibet is short of money, provincial governors should weigh the weight. In areas with developed coal mines, the governor should send cadres to conduct detailed investigations and explain the pilot projects according to local conditions. But in order to hinder the words of Feng Shui and gathering people to make trouble, I put a plug. "
In addition, Emperor Xianfeng also refuted the old saying that mining is easy to cause trouble: "I want to open a mine to benefit the world with the natural benefits of heaven and earth. Compared with all expedient measures and disadvantages, it is still a harmless system and beneficial to people's livelihood. Only when local officials and managers are suitable will they not be abused. In other words, if the old mines in various provinces are mining and pumping classes every year, the officials and the people can live in peace for a long time. Isn't it obvious? "
In the early Qing dynasty, the dynasties paid the most attention to copper, lead, tin and other mines and basically adopted an open policy; Precious metals such as gold and silver are second; Coal, iron, nitrate, sulfur and other mining industries have received some attention. Qianlong period was a period of mining prosperity. There are 3 13 mines in China, while there were only over 60 in Kang Yong. During Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, the mining industry did not reach the level of the mid-Qianlong period.
In Qing Dynasty, mines were mainly concentrated in Yunnan-Guizhou, Guangdong-Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and other provinces. Yunnan has the most silver and copper mines. More than 80% of the silver mines are in Yunnan, and the annual output of silver is about 500,000 taels. However, Yunnan alone accounts for 95% of the national copper production, with an annual output of140,000 Jin. Lead ore is the most in Guizhou, and iron ore is the most in Guangdong. Most of the coal mines were in Guangdong, and were gradually replaced by Fengtian, Jilin and other provinces.
To sum up, the mining policy of Qing dynasty experienced a tortuous process from prohibition to reopening, reopening and reopening, and then relaxing and advocating to a certain extent. The evolution of this process, in addition to the objective requirements of social and economic development, has a direct and subtle relationship with the stability of the political situation, the change of ruling power and the financial situation in the Qing Dynasty.