History of the Origin of Rice Cultivation in Yunnan

Author: Guan Yanbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: This book consists of an introduction and four chapters, presenting a systematic research on rice cultivation in Yunnan. The introduction at the beginning of each chapter directly explains the reasons for studying this topic, as well as the research methods, academic value, and practical significance. Chapter discusses theories and viewpoints related to the origin of primitive agriculture and rice cultivation, taking the "Assam-Yunnan Origin Theory" of rice as the analytical background. It elaborates in detail on the role of Yunnan in the study of Asian rice culture and provides strong evidence for Yunnan being one of the origins of rice cultivation from aspects such as origin myths of cereals, plant genetics, archaeology, ethnology, and linguistics. Chapter 2, with the background of the establishment and administration of the Central Plains Dynasty in Yunnan and the social production activities of various ethnic communities in Yunnan's history, focuses on the evolution of rice production tools and the development of water conservancy irrigation as the main threads, examining the history of Yunnan rice cultivation in chronological stages. Chapter 3 focuses on the stages of rice cultivation technology evolution, from manual farming to animal-drawn plowing (such as elephants and cattle), from plowing to hoeing, and finally from hoeing to cattle-drawn plowing. Taking the production cycle of rice as the main axis, it systematically studies eight production technology links in the rice cultivation process: preparation for farming, selection of rice seed resources, rice seedling raising and dry-land sowing, transplanting organization and methods, fertilization, weeding, pest and disease control, autumn protection, harvesting, and storage. It also examines the genealogy of rice production tools and rice irrigation technology, providing a complete display of the rich connotations of rice cultivation in Yunnan. Rice cultivation is not only a production technology system but also a system of rituals and beliefs. Therefore, in Chapter 4, we first take the production cycle of rice as the main axis and categorize the various ritual ceremonies passed down by the ethnic groups in Yunnan from the preparation for farming to the storage of rice grains into four major types: pre-wishful year ceremonies, sowing·transplanting ceremonies, growth process ceremonies, and harvest ceremonies, and conduct a comprehensive examination. Next, we systematically explain the rice cultivation spiritual genealogy and belief system centered around deities such as the sky god, earth god, grain god, mountain god, water god, ancestor god, and cow god that emerge in various ritual activities. Finally, we summarize and conclude the attributes and characteristics of rice cultivation rituals in Yunnan.