引言人口和耕地是构成国情国力的基本要素,在相当程度上制约和影响着社会经济的发展,尤其对于旧中国这样一个农业大国,其重要性更为明显。然而我们对历代人地数量的研究,仍然是薄弱环节。即使不是全然心中无数,至少是没有一个确数。且不论古代,就说近代,各个时期究竟人口多少,耕地多少,众说纷纭,莫衷一是。单就1911年以后的人口数字而言,解放前有人统计过,就有58种之多。少则278百万人,多则547百万人。如将所遗漏的以 Introduction Population and cultivated land are the basic elements that constitute the national strength of the country. To a certain extent, they restrict and influence the development of the society and economy. In particular, it is even more significant for an agricultural country like Old China. However, our study of the number of ancient people is still the weak link. Even if not completely innumerable, at least not a definite number. And regardless of the ancient times, it is said that the modern times and the number of cultivated land in various periods are not exactly the same. As far as the population after 1911 is concerned, there are 58 as many as before the liberation statistics. As many as 278 million and as many as 547 million. As will be missed