2009 年 118 巻 3 号 p. 378-403
In this study, I analyze how kenmon (powerful Manchu families during the Qing Dynasty) that had no power base in outlying areas were able to exert an influence not only in the court but also in outlying areas taking as a case example the salt trade in which the powerful vassal Mingju of Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) was involved through the An clan of Changlu salt merchants. In addition, I also examine the process by which this salt trade was controlled by imperial authority centered in the power struggle in the court and control of the Eight Banners during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1723-35) and extending as late as the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795). Salt taxation was a major source of income in national fiscal affairs of the Qing Dynasty and the moves of salt merchants engaged in the production and sales of salt had a very significant influence. There was collusion between Mingju of the influential Yehe Nara clan and the Changlu salt merchant An clan in the background of the private salt sales incident of the Changlu salt merchant Zhang Lin exposed in the 44^<th> year of Kangxi (1705). The salt merchant An clan was active behind the scenes as a "family member" under Mingju and, moreover, linked as well to the problem of imperial succession at the time since Yin Tang, the ninth prince of Emperor Kangxi and a relative by marriage of Mingju and the An clan, was in waiting, the problem of the An clan persisted after the death of Mingju until the reign of Emperor Yongzheng. Furthermore, the salt trade in which Mingju and the others were involved did not only include Changlu salt near the capital city but extended beyond to salt from Hedong and Lianghuai, which rendered the situation that much more serious. After ascending the throne, Emperor Yongzheng sought to control the management of the salt trade, which was under the influence of Mingju and An clan, by entrusting it to directly affiliated internal merchants, to booi niyalma, to his own former vassals from the time prior to ascension or to banner prince confidants. For the most part, however, the salt-related initiatives ended in failure and, by the time of the reign of Emperor Qianlong, there was no recourse but to entrust salt affairs to well established salt merchants. Yanwo of more than twenty sections of Henan Province, thought to be under the direct control of Zhang Lin, were unified and, at first, the bureaucrats of internal affairs were dispatched for their management. Ultimately, wealthy Changlu salt merchants were selected and there was no recourse but to entrust management to them in a fixed-term system. In addition, trial and error in salt affairs granted by the Wangfu also continued and greater emphasis came to be placed on the difficulties the government faced in managing the salt operations and the need for the salt trade.