Tags: Qing dynasty | rubbing | stele

Main title: Inscription Moves to Tackle Problem Beggars
Date: 1841
Description: This stele was set up in the 21st year of the Dao Guang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1841) by order of the magistrate from Taiwan County (Tainan City), Yan Xin. Gentries and shopkeepers from Luitiao Street near the Temple of Guandi, the Chinese God of War, in Taiwan Prefecture (Tainan City) accused beggars of robbery and riotry. The intendant and prefect of Taiwan gave orders to restrain the leader of the beggars and to issue regulations of beggar management on a stele to prohibit beggars from making trouble during festivities or funerals.
Collection: Rubbings of Taiwan Cultural Relics

This inscription details gentries and shopkeepers from Liutiao Street near the Temple of Guandi, the Chinese God of War, in Taiwan Prefecture (Tainan City) that sued a beggar Huang Shui for forcing money from others and acting violently during a celebration for gods held by the Huang and the Wu family. And thus they applied to the intendant, Yao Ying, and the prefect, Xiung Yi-ben, to restrain Huang Shui’s behavior and to inform the public that if similar events occurred in the future, the following six rules should be upheld.
1. Beggars are not allowed to force others to donate money or rice against their will. They should only take what is offered by the stores. If they do not follow the rules, the leader of beggars is to be questioned.
2. Beggars are allowed to ask for 200 coins from the hosting family of celebrations for newborn children or on the festival of Deity Greeting. If there are no celebrations, beggars cannot ask for money.
3. At formal weddings, beggars are allowed to ask for 200 coins from the hosting families. If is less formal, only 100 coins is allowed to be asked.
4. If there is a funeral, no matter how long the funeral is, only 100 coins may be asked for.
5. Beggars are not allowed to beg inside the Taiwan Prefecture in groups.
6. Beggars should not have ulterior motives such as robbing remote counties in groups.
Taiwan County (Tainan City) magistrate, Yan Xin, set up a stele in Taiwan County to enforce the prohibition.

National Taiwan University Library, National Taiwan University