The Transition Of Native Customs In The Non-treaty Ports

Research on China's modem economic history-the late Qing Dynasty in Chinese Maritime Customs and the financial markets and open circle,published by Hamashita Takeshi,gives me a good opportunity for reference since the Chinese version is available.Study on the institutions of Native Customs Service and the consistency of Likin System becomes a hot issue to explore the mechanism how the tariff system imposed its influence on internal trade.There were two kinds of research directions on native customs:one is from the angle of Chaoguan(or Huguan),which was controlled by the Chinese Ministry of Revenue(Hu Bu),and the Gongguan, which was controlled by the Chinese Ministry of Engineering(Gong Bu).The other is from conventional view of researching Native Customs Service in terms of Chinese Maritime Customs Service.These two kinds of approaches are not available for all the aspects related to the certain topic,among which is the research on the change of China(the Qing Dynasty) clearance system under the influence of foreign customs tariff system.However,quite little progress has been achieved on it.Moreover,little attention was paid on the native customs especially from later period of Qing Dynasty until the abolishment of native customs during the period of Republic of China.In this paper,I adopt the previous model of a case study on native customs established by other scholars,then apply it on the Yangzhou Native Customs.Then I will try to describe the establishment and development of Yangzhou Native Customs.By discomposing the course of the development,I will reveal how Yangzhou Native Customs declined accompanied with the changing characteristics of Chinese society and find out the identities of the customs which was situated at the non-treaty port. This changing course was marked by the cooperation and competition o with foreign customs,which acquired the domination at last.The study on the relationship between Native Customs Service and the local states(especially refers to the regional government level) the relationship is an attractive and worthy topic but not many historians have realized it.From the view of Native Customs Service and Chinese Maritime Customs Service I try to discuss the settings,management institutions,and the patterns of operation of Yangzhou Native Customs.How internal mechanisms and localization infiltrated into each other.With the help of the perspective and methodology of previous research,this paper explains the relevant historical features of the tariffs of Yangzhou Native Customs during Qing Dynasty and the circulation of commodities.By computing the change of allowance, it is easy to reflect the prosperity of decline of trade in the hinterland of the Yangzi fiver in Yangzhou.This study shows that:although the political policy and management of commodity circulation was hostile to the business is there,and although the main purpose government was to keep the regime and social stable,the social effects of the implementation of the policy,was conducive to business operations and the development of commodity economy in practice.