嘉庆时期(1796—1820)是清王朝由盛至衰的转折时期,堪称重要。而历来史学界的研究重点多集中于嘉庆之前,即使是这一时期的一些重大问题也论述很少。本文拟对嘉庆中衰的原因进行一些探讨,以期共议。赫赫大清,嘉庆中衰,究其原因,虽专论绝无,但论及所见,令人称疑。有言是封建社会固有矛盾发展为必然结果者,亦有言是农民起义打击所使之,更有人说是嘉庆帝为政过宽所致,若把这些问题说成是嘉庆中衰的原因似乎有理,但疵漏太多,实难成信。如前者,为什么封建社会固有矛盾必然要在嘉庆朝爆发,而不在乾隆朝或道光朝?中者,较大的农民起义在嘉庆曾爆发过几次,可是,白莲教起义在嘉庆九年就已平息,后期的天理教起义仅一年即剿灭,并未构成足以使清王朝衰败的威胁。后者嘉庆帝的确有为政失之过宽的事例,但纵观嘉庆一朝,他宽严相济,恩威并施地办理政务则应视为主流。凡此种种若称其为中衰之因,似觉不妥。那么,其因何在? The Jiaqing period (1796-1820) is a turning point from the prosperous to the decline of the Qing Dynasty, it is important. Historically, historians have mostly focused their research prior to Jiaqing, and even a few major issues during this period have not been discussed. This article intends to discuss the reasons for the decline of Jiaqing in order to discuss. Hehe Daqing, Jiaqing in the decline, the reason, although no monograph, but the views and see, it is suspicious. There is a saying that the feudal society inherent contradictions and development as a necessary result, there are words that the peasant uprising hit it, some say Jiaqing imperial government is too wide due to these problems if it seems to be the reason Jia Jiaqing decline seems Rational, but too many defects, the real hard to believe. As the former, why did the feudal society’s inherent contradictions inevitably erupt in Jiaqing toward the Choson Dynasty, not in the Qianlong or Daoguang Dynasties? The larger peasant uprising broke out several times in Jiaqing, but the White Lotus uprising was already held in Jiaqing for nine years Subsided, the Tianjiao uprising in the latter part of the year was to be annihilated and did not constitute a threat that would make the Qing dynasty decay. The latter Jiaqing Di indeed has a case of excessive political and social losses. However, looking at Jiaqing’s time, he was strict and in good spirits. Eunuch and administration should be regarded as the mainstream. If all this is called the reason for failure, it seems inappropriate. So why?