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15 May 2006, Volume 0 Issue 2 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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Water Wheels and Rice Seedlings: Paddy-field Drainage and the Restoration of Production in Qing-dynasty Jiangnan WANG Jian-Ge 2006, 0(2): 1-11.  Abstract ( )   PDF (688KB) ( )   This paper analyzes the enclosure of fields, the transfer of seedlings and the personnel involved in paddy - field drainage and rice production in the Lake Tai region.Large embankments, tiered banks, and ditches facilitated the drainage of paddy lands.In the Qing dynasty drainage and bailing water depended on large scale water wheels located on larger embankments which required the mobilization of substantial manpower.Given the urgent need to distribute the water, many women took part in the work.The local dialect contains many phrases and locutions regarding seedlings and drainage that indicate the importance of the long term efforts to ensure p roper drainage and to protect against flooding.This local terminology directly reflects the direct connections between paddy land and water, and the transplanting of seedlings and flooding. Related Articles | Metrics

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An Initial Study of Sanitation Concepts and Behavior in Jiangnan during the Qing Dynasty and Their Vicissitudes in Modern Times YU Xin-Zhong 2006, 0(2): 12-26.  Abstract ( )   PDF (651KB) ( )   The history of sanitation in China, especially in pre - modern times, has been fundamentally neglected.Based on Qing dynasty Jiangnan, this article undertakes an initial study of sanitary concepts and behavior and their variations from modern practices.From the perspective of the environment, water sanitation and other aspects of sanitation that impinged on everyday life when compared to modern sanitation many scholars have concluded that the Qing public health legislation was inadequate on a national scale.However, at the regional and local levels concepts and behavior concerning public health, which balanced the natural and social ecologies, did exist.From the reigns of the Jiaqing and Daoguang emperors, along with changes in the social environment and intrusion of Western civilization, sanitary concepts and practices in Jiangnan underwent a series of changes.Numerous intellectuals, considering the shortcomings of the existing sanitary system , felt the necessity to introduce expert administrative organization and systems including daily inspections, fines, and regulations.A s a consequence health services were transformed into systemic and organized official institutions. Related Articles | Metrics

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The Growth of Local Genealogy into National Field:The Drought and Charity Famine Relief in Shanxi, 1900-1901 ZHU Hu 2006, 0(2): 27-38.  Abstract ( )   PDF (582KB) ( )   Within the course of social history research, local practices normally do not extend beyond the loca l environment in which they arise and they can only survive at the basic level where they originate .This paper finds that from 1900 to 1901, in drought- stricken Shanxi, although the very active power of charity famine relief ( yizhen) originated in the local clans of Jiangnan, this type of relief did broke out of its local origins and became a national institution of famine relief .This case not only shows a rarely noticed face of local practice, but also expands the approaches to local history. Related Articles | Metrics

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The Transformation of Structure and Function of Green Crop Societies in North China during 19th Century: The Case of Baodi Country, Shuntian Prefecture ZHOU Jian, ZHANG Si 2006, 0(2): 39-51.  Abstract ( )   PDF (614KB) ( )   Green Crop Societies in North China can be dated to at least the early nineteenth century .The earliest ones were loose temporary crop- watching organizations. Bu t from the middle o f 19th century, G reen Crop Societies gradually evolved in to integrated autonomous organizations of villages which undertook all kinds o f public affairs and had the capacity of levying corvee .This transformation reflected the new trend between state and rural society during the reign of Xianfeng and Tong zhi: the state continuously penetrated into the local society in order to seize revenues, while rural society achieved a certain degree of autonomy through the transformation o G reen Crop Societies. Related Articles | Metrics

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Beggars and Their Management in Rural Guangdong in the Qing Dynasty:An Investigation Based on Data from Steles NI Gen-Jin, CHEN Zhi-Guo 2006, 0(2): 52-59.  Abstract ( )   PDF (393KB) ( )   From the Middle of the Qing Dynasty, the population in Guangdong rose rapidly and the problem of rural beggars was increasingly prevalent.In particular, the“evil”beggars from outside Guangdong who engaged in aggressive begging, blackmail, intimidation, and theft, seriously undermined social stability and normal agricultural production.In order to remedy this problem, the local government and villagers united and enacted local laws to deal with the beggars.This management contained three aspects: first, the control of the beggars’ actions; second, the promotion of local organizations of beggars, third, the restriction of local beggars.The“baojia”organizations and the community compacts ( xiangyue) were the main institution that dealt with the beggars while the local gentry were important force promoting the management of rural beggars. Related Articles | Metrics

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The Educational Industry of Huating-Lou Area in the Early Nineteenth Century LI Bo-Zhong 2006, 0(2): 60-74.  Abstract ( )   PDF (622KB) ( )   The education in pre- modern China has been seen limited to a small part o f the total population and thus can hardly have been regarded as an industry But the author of this article challenges this conventional wisdom .Taking the area of Huating- Lou ( the two Qing counties of Huating and Lou) as a case, the author has made an analysis o f the major types of school in this area and their functions, the size o f education ( the number of students and teachers in schools of different types), the investment in education, and the position of education as an industry in local economy .The author concludes that considering the number of individuals employed in education and its share in the total employment as w ell as the amount of investment and its share in total investment, education had become an important industry by the m id- nineteenth century. Related Articles | Metrics

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Preliminary Research on the Rise of Modern Social Investigation in the Late of Qing LI Zhang-Peng 2006, 0(2): 75-81.  Abstract ( )   PDF (503KB) ( )   Following the A sociation of Zhejiang Students in Japan establishment of an investigation department in 1902, there was a gradual trend toward the use of social surveys in the late Qing.Influenced by Japan, late Qing social surveys were closely related to statistics.The content of social surveys involved a variety of aspects of social life, the subjects and purposes were diverse, and the results were objective.A ll this indicated that a degree of modernity existed in social investigation at the end of Qing Dynasty and modern social survey can trace its origins to this period. Related Articles | Metrics

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Revisiting the ’Canton System of Trade in the Qing Dynasty CAO Wen 2006, 0(2): 82-96.  Abstract ( )   PDF (688KB) ( )   The Canton System of trade, which was first implemented in the twenty second year of the Qian long Reign, was directed at foreigners in the Guang zhou area Scholars have commonly considered it a closed- door policy to restrict both inland and overseas trade How ever, are examination of the Canton System shows that it was an effective fo reign policy to control foreigners and ami ed to keep order in the frontier port of Guangzhou and the southeast coast- line of China as well .In the same year, Zungar War was launched to resolve the crisis on China s' Northwest border. This indicated interactivity between foreign and domestic policies and the resolution of important domestic problems. Related Articles | Metrics

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An Evaluation of Prince Chun Yi-xuan PAN Xiang-Ming 2006, 0(2): 97-106.  Abstract ( )   PDF (463KB) ( )   Prince Chun Y i- xuan was an important figure in government circles in the late Qing Dynasty He had a sharp mind and was honest in performing his official duties. Prince Chun made a great contribution in early stage of the Chinese modernization .Especially outstanding were his achievements in launching the construction of railways. However the public was criticized him because he helped the Empress Dowager Cixi build the Summer Palace T he diversion of resources to the construction of the Summer Palace has long been considered a contributing fact or to the Qing 's defeat in the Sino - Japanese War ( 1894- 1895) , bu t the author thinks such view s are incorrect. Related Articles | Metrics