Draft on the Feudal Economy of China

Author: Fang Xing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: This book is guided by Marxist economic theory and incorporates the new research findings of modern Western economics. Using empirical and quantitative analysis as tools, it conducts specialized research on the "landlord economy," "peasant economy," and "commodity economy" in the feudal economic history of China. By excavating historical records, seeking internal connections, and conducting case studies, the book integrates the macrostructure and microbehavior of the feudal economy in China, drawing many unconventional conclusions and standing as an outstanding work in the field.
After the founding of New China, I worked in national economic agencies. In 1978, I joined the Institute of Economic Research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to begin studying the economic history of ancient China. At that time, the renowned economists Xu Deting and Wu Chengming were editing The History of Capitalist Development in China. I participated in writing the volume The Emergence of Capitalism in China, focusing on the development and changes in production relations in several industries such as agricultural product processing, mining, and transportation, as well as the slow emergence of capitalism. This work spanned five years.
Since 1984, I have co-edited The Economic History of the Qing Dynasty with Professor Jing Junjian and Professor Wei Jinyu, and participated in its writing. The research emphasized issues related to the operation and development of the peasant economy, such as the independence of peasant operations, peasant production models and reproduction, the commodity production and circulation of agricultural products and household handicrafts, and peasant consumption. This work was part of the key research project "Periodization Research of Ancient Chinese Economic History" under the National Philosophy and Social Sciences "Seventh Five-Year Plan," and was later published as The General History of China: Economic History of the Qing Dynasty under the National "Ninth Five-Year Plan" key book program.
The time span from the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" to the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" may seem long. However, by the Qing Dynasty, the feudal society in China had developed increasingly complex socio-economic relationships, with the interactions among political, economic, cultural, and social factors becoming increasingly intricate. Moreover, the historical documents were vast and overwhelming. To write a historical work of nearly two million words based on thorough data collection and in-depth thematic research, a certain amount of time was necessary to ensure quality, as rushed work often fails.
The development of the feudal economy in China was a complete and continuous natural historical process. While periodization research is beneficial for excavating historical materials and uncovering facts, it inevitably creates a sense of artificial fragmentation. Therefore, after the completion of The Economic History of the Qing Dynasty in 1998, I followed the principle of Sima Qian, the great historian, to "understand the changes between past and present," and sought to clarify the developmental trajectory of the feudal economy in China. In 1998, I published the article The Independence of Peasant Operations in the Feudal Society of China, marking the beginning of this effort. Subsequently, I conducted further research on the stages of feudal economic development, the landlord economy, the relationship between feudal rent and taxation and the commodity economy, and feudal land markets. If I still have the energy, this remains my direction for future efforts.
This Draft on the Feudal Economy of China is a collection of my research over the years, with most of the works dating from the 1990s onwards. The Economic History Research Office of the Institute of Economic Research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, where I work, is a renowned center for economic history studies in China. Under the guidance of masters such as Yan Zhongping, Wu Chengming, and Wang Jingyu, the institute has developed its own research style over the years. They emphasize the theoretical guidance of Marxist economics, the absorption of beneficial components of modern Western economics as analytical tools, empirical analysis, quantitative analysis, thematic research, and above all, innovation. These principles are succinctly reflected in the famous saying of Yan Zhongping: "Academic research must involve new materials, new problems, new perspectives, and new methods—avoid recycling old ideas."
I entered this field late and may not fully meet expectations, but from these papers, one can also see the efforts I have made and the research level I have achieved in this regard. Since the 1950s, I have worked under the guidance of Professor Wu Chengming, engaging in frequent discussions and learning of economic theories, which has benefited me greatly. Some of my papers have also benefited from his insightful advice.