The author of this book is Fei Xiaotong, the founder of sociology and anthropology in China. This book is a sociological investigation report on the politics, economy, culture and life of rural areas and farmers on the social science level through his field trip to the Triumph Palace village, and describes the consumption, production, distribution and trading system of farmers in China at that time.
Jiang village economy was originally Fei Xiaotong's doctoral thesis at the London School of Economics and Political Science when he was only 29 years old. Its original name was Kay Gong Xuan, the economic life of a rural area in China, and it was later published by the Royal Anthropological Society, and it was named "The Life of Farmers in China". Published in China on 1939, and finally named Jiangcun Life.
His professors and tutors spoke highly of this book: "This book is the result of the author's investigation of his own people as a citizen, the result of a native working in his hometown, and a realistic investigation material obtained by the author's in-depth study of the social life of the Arc de Triomphe Village. This book not only shows you a small village, but also shows you one of the greatest countries in the world. In the book, the author mainly describes the process of rural land use and reproduction of farmers' families, focusing on all basic aspects of farmers' life in China.
The author has the courage to abandon all academic postures in scientific research and write realistically with scientific knowledge. He praised Dr. Fei as a young patriot in China. He noticed that his motherland was in a dilemma at this time. Under the influence of the west, traditional culture is facing the result of continuous westernization or eventual extinction. He wrote about how difficult it is to adapt in the process of change. This process must be gradually, slowly and tactfully built on the old foundation. All these changes should be planned, and the plan must be based on solid facts and knowledge.
This book can play a very important reference role for China to formulate and implement the current rural reform policy. The author dutifully completed the work of a social scientist, that is, effective anthropology, which truly makes scientific analysis of human society, human behavior and human nature, is unstoppable in the process of human beings. At the same time, the most admirable thing is the author's writing attitude in the book: dignity, detachment and impartiality. Today, it is understandable that a China person is disgusted with the politics and culture of western countries, but this is not reflected in this book. The author and his colleagues can uphold the principle of not holding national prejudice and hatred.
The moral attitude of rationally distinguishing ethnic groups from political systems is worthy of respect. If anyone wants to know about the civilization of China, they need to read this book about the life of China people and understand how China people think in reality. "
In this book, I saw what the coastal countryside of China was like before War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, how farmers lived and what their thoughts were, and I knew how important rural reform was in national construction. Secondly, some China people blindly worship foreign things and admire foreign cultures on the Internet, instead of ignoring their own, which is incorrect. China is an ancient civilization with the longest history, vast territory and large population in the world. The thickness and breadth of China culture are unmatched by other countries in the world.
The emergence of different concepts and cultures is related to the historical environment, economy and cultural system at that time, and is the result of the joint action of many factors. With the rapid development of economy and society, culture will gradually change, and backward customs and cultures will be compared in comparison. Because people are slow to accept the new culture, especially the old culture has been deeply rooted in the minds of the older generation, and some areas are remote and closed, not affected by the new culture, so it is inevitable that some old ideas are difficult to change.
However, when the younger generation grows up, the cultural lag will inevitably be gradually eliminated, and many customs and concepts of the Arc de Triomphe Village in the book have long since disappeared. So culture must be a process of taking its essence and discarding its dross. As contemporary young people, we should know more about the past history, trace back to the source and not criticize hatred casually. We should gradually establish correct values and establish our own national beliefs.
Professor Fei Xiaotong, as a sociologist, put forward many opinions through his own scientific observation and analysis, among which the most striking ones are: 1, proposing to develop "township enterprises" and "grass-roots enterprises" to support the development of township enterprises, and 2, proposing to develop China's private economic model represented by "Sunan model" and "Wenzhou model". When China was influenced by western industrial design, Professor Fei Xiaotong's advanced thought is still very valuable now: to solve the land problem in China, we should not only rely on land reform, reduce land rent and average land ownership, but also increase farmers' income.
It is not to tighten farmers' expenses, but to restore rural enterprises. China's countryside is different from western cities. If we learn from the west and put all industries in cities instead of agriculture to manage the silk industry, farmers who could have made a living will starve and be in debt. In this way, farmers can't keep their cultivated land and concentrate on cities. In rural areas, it is the bankruptcy of the economy, and in cities, it is the sharp increase of the labor reserve team, which will also affect the vitality of urban workers. Therefore, we should leave the silk industry in the countryside and make it a way to develop rural sideline, thus prospering the countryside.
However, the scale of setting up factories in rural areas will be limited by the population, so we should seek the smallest and most efficient factory unit. And Professor Fei Xiaotong's "Land Problems in China" written in the last section of the book is also wonderful. I recorded it in the back, hoping to arouse everyone's thinking.
The following is a brief description and summary of the main points I put forward in this book. The text is taken from the original book. If there are any mistakes, please criticize and correct them. Thank you!
Chapter 1: Preface.
1. This small-scale on-the-spot investigation is a necessary supplement to the current macro-study of China's economic problems, and also helps us to further understand the importance of the traditional economic background and the role of the new labor force in people's daily lives. What needs to be emphasized is that the traditional power is as important as the new power, because the real process of China's economic life change is neither a direct transition from the western social system, nor just a disruption of the traditional balance. What is happening in the current situation is the result of the interaction between these two forces.
For example, the economic problems I observed in this village can only be understood by considering two aspects. On the one hand, due to the development of world industry, the price of raw silk has dropped; On the other hand, it is the importance of family sideline based on traditional land ownership in family economic budget. Underestimating either side will misinterpret the real situation. The product of the interaction between these two forces will not be a copy of the western world, nor will it be a revival of tradition. The result depends on how people solve their own problems.
As an observer of social science, a correct understanding of the present situation based on facts will help guide this change towards our expected results.
2. Culture is a combination of material, equipment and all kinds of knowledge. People use equipment and knowledge to survive. Sometimes, people want to change their culture for some purpose. If a person throws away a tool and gets a new one, it is because he believes that the new tool will be more suitable for him. Therefore, any cultural change process is a complex: his past experience, his understanding of the present situation, and his expectation of future results. Sometimes, the past experience is not always a true portrayal of the past facts, because the past facts have been selected and changed in the process of memory.
Sometimes, it is not always possible to have an accurate understanding of the current situation, because the angle and degree of analysis and understanding will be affected by interests. Sometimes, the future result will not be what people expect, because it is a combination of many forces besides hope and hard work. Therefore, the latest tools may also prove unsuitable for people's purposes.
3. Inaccurate explanation or analysis of the situation, whether due to intentional fault or ignorance, is harmful to this group, which may lead to disappointing consequences. There are many examples in this book to illustrate the importance of explaining or analyzing the situation or situation realistically.
Social science should play an important role in guiding cultural change. If we want to organize effective actions and achieve the expected goals, we must analyze the functions of social systems in detail, and combine them with the needs they want to meet and other systems on which their operation depends, so as to realize a reasonable explanation of the situation. This is the work of social scientists. China needs this knowledge more and more urgently, because this country can no longer afford to lose any wealth and energy due to mistakes.
Our fundamental goal is clear, that is, to meet the common basic needs of all people in China. Everyone should admit this. A village standing on the edge of hunger is not good for anyone. In this sense, China people should have no political differences on these basic measures. Differences are due to misrepresentation or distortion of facts. A systematic reflection of the actual situation of the people will help convince this country that some policies or measures are urgently needed in order to restore the normal life of the broad masses. This is not a question of philosophical thinking, let alone an ideological debate among various schools.
What is really needed is common sense judgment based on reliable circumstances. The current research is only a preliminary attempt by a group of young students in China, who understand the importance of this task. In the future, there will be more extensive and organized forces to continue research. I am reluctant to take out this immature book. Immature because the Japanese occupied and destroyed the village I described, and I was deprived of the opportunity to do further field investigation. But I still want to contribute this book, hoping it can provide a realistic picture for western readers.
That is: our people shoulder a heavy responsibility and are paying a heavy price for the current struggle. I am not pessimistic, but I am sure it is a long and serious struggle. We have prepared for the worst, and are prepared to bear a situation worse than the Japanese bombs and poison gas. However, I believe that regardless of past mistakes and current misfortunes, China will once again become a great country in the world through the unremitting efforts of the people. This book is not a lost historical record, but a preface to a new chapter in world history that will be written with the blood of millions of people.
Chapter II: Investigation Area
1, the definition of the investigation area is determined by a village.
2. Geographical conditions The Arc de Triomphe Village is located in the Yangtze River Delta and the Yangtze River Plain. Summer is a subtropical climate, and the agricultural growth period can last for 300 days. Located at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, it has the dual advantages of natural environment and geographical location. Waterway and railway transportation are developed.
3. Economic Background More than 90% of the land in the Arc de Triomphe is planted with rice, accounting for about 6 months of rice planting a year, and more than half of the income is obtained by planting rice. Vegetables such as wheat and rape and aquatic animals and plants such as fish, shrimp and crabs will also be planted. Silk industry is also an important source of high-quality local economy. After the advanced technology of modern silk industry was introduced into Japan and China, the rural silk industry began to decline, which changed the fate of domestic rural handicrafts. Due to the decline of China's exports and the decline of international silk prices, the traditional family silk handicraft industry in rural areas went bankrupt. This is the economic background of this book.
There are eleven promises in the village. Xu is a land unit, and a piece of land around the water is Xu. The total area of the village is about 3000 mu. Land is divided into crop land and residential land. The village is dominated by waterways, people travel by boat, and the houses are all by the river. The factory is located downstream of the river to avoid polluting the river. Two temples outside the residential area usually carry out religious activities. The primary school is at the southern end of the village, and the establishment of new public institutions is only in the old one.
5. The population of this village is 65438+10458 at the time of the 935 census. There are obvious differences between people in the village and outsiders. Outsiders are engaged in special occupations and have no land.
6. The reason for choosing this investigation area is good natural resources and high level of agricultural development, so we can fully study the land reform in China. Triumph Palace Village is one of the important silk industrial centers in China, which can be regarded as a representative example in the process of industrial transformation in China. The most important change is that the factory has replaced the cottage industry, and the resulting social problems. The Triumph Palace waterway has convenient transportation, so we can study the water transport market town system. I am familiar with Gong Xuan and have no difficulty in language communication. I can provide materials with the help of my sister and village director.
Chapter III: Home
1, family, extended family
The basic social group in rural areas is family, which usually refers to parents, minor children and even adult or married sons. A family in rural areas has an average of 4-6 people, and there will be more in cities. The size of a family depends on the economic base. The family can't expand indefinitely, as long as the division is desirable, it will be divided.
2, the continuation of incense
The basic feature of the family is that one of the married sons does not leave his parents, and the child is the guarantee of old age, so-called raising children to prevent old age. Finding a daughter-in-law for his son is regarded as the responsibility of his parents, and his son should obey his parents' arrangements. The main purpose of marriage is to carry on the family line and continue the incense; The second is to show filial piety to ancestors, and there are always descendants to worship their ancestors. Children can help establish close relationship between husband and wife and stabilize the family, which has certain economic value, such as mowing the grass and feeding the sheep at home. In rural areas, the principle of inheritance is paternal, and the family identity and property distribution are unequal, and the focus is always on the male side.
Now, the new concept of equality between men and women tries to change this traditional kinship system.
3. Population control
Population control is to prevent poverty. The land area at home is limited, and sericulture is also limited. Therefore, food and economy are limited, and redundant family members will become a heavy burden, which is a powerful factor to limit the number of children. Sometimes, people resort to abortion or baby drowning to stop the increase of members, especially baby girls. Rich families have more children.
4. Parents and children
During pregnancy, mothers should have prenatal education, hoping that their good behavior will affect their children's future personality. After giving birth to a child, the mother resumed doing housework a week later, which caused the high mortality rate of women after giving birth to a child to some extent. The infant mortality rate is also high. In fact, in order to protect their children, parents will show dislike to their children. Local people think that if parents show too much affection for their children, they will be hunted by ghosts. Therefore, naming a child should be derogatory, such as a cat and a dog, for ghosts to see, no one is interested in children, and children don't care about ghosts and won't continue to intervene.
At home, the father is responsible for punishment, and the mother always dotes on her children a little. When young people grow up and join the production team, it means destroying an old man, and knowledge and material are passed from the old generation to the younger generation, so problems such as education, inheritance and children's obligations arise.
5. Education
Boys/kloc-began to study agricultural labor at the age of 0/4 and became full-time workers at the age of 20. Girls and their mothers learn silk and housework. In the village, most parents are illiterate and do not attach importance to education. If the school time conflicts with the time of raising sheep and mowing grass, their children will not be allowed to go to school.
Step 6 get married
In the village, children's marriage is entirely up to their parents, and it is considered inappropriate and shameful to talk about marriage by themselves. Usually arranged at the age of 6-7, the better the child, the earlier the engagement. Usually, the matchmaker uses the date of birth to calculate whether men and women are suitable. Mother-in-law has two requirements when choosing a daughter-in-law, one is good health and good rearing, and the other is sericulture and reeling technology. In a patriarchal society, women have no right to inherit property, and the future is only a stable life, which can only be obtained through marriage. The man needs to give the woman a bride price. On the one hand, the bride price is given to the woman's family, on the other hand, it is married with the woman as a dowry. Dowry is regarded as a daughter's position in the family to some extent.
Bride price and dowry are the material basis for parents to give their new families. Generally, the cost of marriage is between 200 and 400.
7. The daughter-in-law is at home
Daughter-in-law should strictly abide by the rules in her husband's family, and her mother-in-law is often regarded as an opponent. Family disputes often occur between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. If the dispute is serious, the daughter-in-law may be abandoned, and the mother-in-law may raise her, even against her son's wishes. But the daughter-in-law can't file for divorce, so she can give up her family and go out to work until she is reconciled with her family. Daughter-in-law gave birth to children, especially boys, which was really accepted by her husband's family. People are prejudiced against the intimate relationship between a woman and any man except marriage.
8. Cousin marriage and kannika nimtragol
Cousin marriage is conducive to the stability of kinship. A girl marries the son of her father and sister. She is called a mountain girl. Going up the mountain means having a lot of money. A girl who marries the son of her mother's brother is called a homecoming girl. Because the girl's mother-in-law has been severely criticized by the girl's grandmother, it is easy to be regarded as the object of her mother-in-law's revenge after marriage, which is considered unfavorable. Because of the low economic value of girls and few people, the gender ratio in the village is unbalanced, which also affects the age gap between husband and wife. The average age difference between husband and wife in the village is 4.9 years, and the husband is 3-4 years older than his wife. But the proportion of girls in cities is higher than that in rural areas.
There will be a phenomenon that urban people marry into the countryside. In the economic downturn, some families will adopt a girl as a child bride (kannika nimtragol) from an early age, which can save the cost of marriage in adulthood. However, the kannika nimtragol system is despised, because generally only people from poor families will do so, which is not conducive to the establishment of normal in-laws relations.
Chapter IV: Property and Inheritance
1, ownership
Family property ownership refers to the common property of this group at different levels and the property owned by each member. Everything owned by individuals is recognized as a part of family property, and family members have the obligation to protect any member's things.
2. Family property
Different types of ownership are unequal among family members, and parents have the final right to dispose of land ownership and real estate. The land is cultivated by men, and women do reeling, cooking and housework. Dowry is regarded as a woman's private property and can be shared with her husband and children with her consent. The income of all sideline businesses in general families belongs to parents, who continue to distribute it.
3. Transfer of property
Children are under the control of their parents when they are minors. After marriage, both parents provide dowry and betrothal gift for newly married women as the economic basis of the new family. The land or house is inherited by a single line, and the daughter has no inheritance right. They get married with only a dowry, regardless of land and house. Sometimes the independence of the younger generation will require separation. At the time of separation, the land was dominated by men, one for parents, one for the eldest son, and the remaining sons were divided equally. The land after the death of his parents was acquired by the son who supported him. The inheritance is inherited by the son. If there are no children, they are inherited by brothers and sons. Male relatives have the right to inherit all the property of the deceased, while widows and daughters have no right.
4. The influence of inheritance on marriage and inheritance.
Land and houses are passed on to sons according to the inheritance system, but if a family has only daughters but no sons, parents can adopt a son-in-law, and the husband and in-laws live in the wife's house. If a family has no children, it can adopt a boy. The boy disowned his biological parents and signed in front of everyone to inherit the property rights of the family. If a son dies after marriage and has no children, then parents can find someone to marry his daughter-in-law instead of his son. This person will become a yellow bladder, and the child born will be regarded as the heir of the deceased. If the deceased has a younger brother, there will be an uncle's marriage.
5. Maintenance obligation
The general law of parents' retreat is from the right to use products to the right to dispose of products, and finally to the right to dispose of electrical appliances and enjoy life. From the time when a child's contribution to the family exceeds his own consumption, it is called supporting his parents. It is their responsibility for children to support their parents, but they have no obligation to support their brothers. Two sons can take turns to support their parents. Sacrifice for forty-nine days after death, and collectively sacrifice all direct ancestors five times a year, burning paper money, etc. After death, descendants have the obligation to repair ancestral graves, and they have been responsible for five generations.
6, the new inheritance law
When a father or mother dies, property can be inherited by widows, sons and daughters. Seven years after the promulgation of the new law, the village still inherits the old law and there is no change.