清代臺灣的訴訟風氣

臺灣在康熙二十三年歸入清廷版圖後，不久在方志、文集中就可觀見地方官員及士人描繪訴訟風氣瀰漫於地方社會，並且逐漸地發展與擴散，延續整個清領時期的「話語」。地方官員與士人的論述言及清代臺灣的訴訟風氣普遍存在地方社會的各類身份和階層，包括地方官吏、武進士、武舉人、生監、郊商與一般大眾。並且在康熙、雍正年間，不論閩人、粵民與新港社、彰化縣熟番，皆開始利用各式訴訟管道與訴訟策略爭取己身的利益，顯示出法律知識逐漸普遍存在於臺灣的各個族群。至於地方官員和士人描述的清代臺灣訴訟風氣之景象，依據時代、區域、階層、性別與族群等類別而觀察，具有六項特點值得重視。雖然國家力量、省級官員、地方官員以及地方社會民眾皆試圖箝制臺灣健訟之風的茁壯，但是似乎皆未能著實成效。筆者因而最後分析健訟風氣在臺灣興起與穩固發展的原因有五項：第一，爲原鄉風俗的移入；第二，閩臺的地理阻隔；第三，臺澎百姓的個人習性；第四，健訟風氣的觸媒－奸徒、衙蠹與訟棍；最後，則爲地方官員執行法令成效不佳。

關鍵字

清代臺灣；健訟；無訟；息訟；話語

並列摘要

After the Qing government ruled Taiwan, the atmosphere of litigation in Taiwan sprouted and was described in many local gazettes. The atmosphere prevailed in local societies and lasted throughout the Qing rule.The atmosphere of litigation in Qing Taiwan generally existed in each class and ethnicity. Many people obviously had the legislation knowledge. Moreover, according to the records and descriptions of local officials and literati, there were six features of litigation of Qing Taiwan that should be noticed: such as regimes, regions, and ethnicity.Although the nation power, provincial officials, local officials and local people all tried to control and suppress the prevailing atmosphere of litigation in Qing Taiwan, it seemed that they did not succeed. There were five reasons accounting for the emergence of such atmosphere of litigation in Taiwan. First, influences of the customary habits and value system from the Mainland immigrants. Second, geographic barriers between Fujian and Taiwan. Third, personal habits of common people in Taiwan and Penghu. Fourth, the media to prevail the atmosphere of litigation: scoundrels, greedy local petty officials, and unruly litigation masters. Finally, local officials executed enactments ineffectively.