董煟의 『救荒活民書』와 救荒策

Abstract

This paper is a review of the famine relief policy of “Jiuhuanghuominshu救荒活民書” compiled by Dongwei during the South Song period. Dongwei served as regional officials in various regions to relieve the famine. Through this experience, Dongwei felt the need for systematic relief and compiled the “Jiuhuanghuominshu”. This book is composed of three volumes and 拾遺. The first book is an example of the major famine relief from ancient times to the Song Dynasty, and the second book presented his own countermeasures and methodology for the relief of the famine. It consists of books and related discussions. The 拾遺 consisted of various discussions on famine relief and laws and regulations. The system of “Jiuhuanghuominshu” became a model for the compilation of professional “Huangzhengshu荒政書” in China afterwards, and it was introduced into Joseon朝鮮 and used to relieve famine. Dongwei suggested five core policies of “famine relief救荒”: ‘常平倉’, ‘義倉’, ‘勸分’, ‘禁遏糴’ and ‘抑價有禁.’ Among them, ‘常平’ and ‘義倉’ are systems that prepare for disasters such as famine. ‘常平’ was originally a function of price control, but it relieved alertness by releasing grain during famine. The ‘義倉’, which is led by the private sector to store grain, was evaluated as a ‘良法’ that can relieve people suffering from starvation in the right place. ‘勸分’ is a way to relieve famine by increasing the private food supply by encouraging wealthy people who can afford to supply grain at an appropriate price. ‘禁遏 糴’ means prohibiting interfering with local food exports during famine. This is to prevent the famine from worsening due to a kind of local egoism. ‘抑價有禁’ means that in a famine situation, grain prices in the market should not be suppressed or food prices should not be controlled at low prices. In other words, profits through appropriate prices must be guaranteed to induce local merchants to come and supply grain. In addition, ‘檢旱’ emphasizes the proper reporting of the famine damage by local authorities. ‘減租’ means that tax cuts should be given to farmers who suffered famine. ‘貸種’ means that hungry farmers should not be urged to lend and repay food. ‘恤農’ means that farmers should be treated preferentially over non-farmers, such as 遊手, when giving preference. ‘遣使’ emphasizes that local leaders should take responsibility and implement oral measures. ‘弛禁’ is to reduce the amount of money in the field. ‘治盜’ emphasizes strict response to thieves during famine. Besides, it is ‘捕蝗’, a corporation that catches grasshoppers. ‘通融有無’ is made in the same way as 借貸內庫 and 賑濟･賑糶･賑貸. ‘鬻爵’ and ‘度僧’ should be implemented only in an emergency while paying attention to side effects. In short, the characteristics of the famine relief plan shown in Dongwei’s “Jiuhuanghuominshu” is based on the traditional concept of ‘恤農’. In addition, it emphasizes the responsibility of local government officials. In addition, there is no fixed way to relieve famine, and it is said that it should be adapted to the condition of each region. Along with this, it values the self-regulated market ideology in famine relief policies such as ‘禁遏糴’ and ‘不抑價’. The same is true of the argument that the supply of grain will be smooth only when appropriate prices are guaranteed to wealthy people during the ‘勸分’.