Jiangnan Gentry and Jiangnan Society: 1368-1911

Author: Xu Maoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Under the guidance of veteran scholars such as Cheng Yingmiao, Zhang Jiaju, and Wei Jianyou, the History Department of Shanghai Normal University has achieved remarkable accomplishments over the past half-century, forming a pragmatic and innovative style. On one hand, it emphasizes cultivating solid historical foundations, while on the other, it focuses on enhancing innovative awareness, leveraging strengths and addressing weaknesses, and staying at the forefront of academia. Currently, the department boasts two doctoral programs and one postdoctoral research station. In 1982, the discipline of Modern Chinese History began admitting master's students. In 1994, the Institute of Modern Chinese Society was established based on the existing Research Room of Modern Chinese History. In 2000, the doctoral program in Modern Chinese History was approved by the State Council Academic Degrees Office. In 2001, the Research Center of Modern Chinese Society was established on the basis of the institute and was recognized as a key discipline by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. The leading scholar of the discipline is Professor Tang Likeng. Currently, the discipline is divided into three research directions: regional socio-economic studies, social problems and social change, and lower-class society and gangster studies. The respective leaders of these directions are Tang Likeng, Su Zhiliang, and Zhou Yumin.
The Department of Modern Chinese History at Shanghai Normal University, with the study of Chinese society in transition as its central focus, has formed the following four characteristics:
1. Combining studies of the whole China with regional societies. Regional history has become a new trend in international historical studies. The Jiangnan region (including Shanghai and Huizhou), which we focus on, is a distinctive area with unique characteristics of social transformation. Regional society is part of the whole China and its cellular form. Analyzing a representative regional society helps deepen our understanding of the whole China. Moreover, lower-class citizens live in specific regional societies, and we must adopt a downward perspective to examine their social life, organizational structures, religious beliefs, traditional culture, and their relationships with major social changes. Reconstructing the actual state of social life cannot be separated from regional history research. For example, regional studies such as Jiangnan Confucian Merchants and Jiangnan Society, Regional Socio-Economic Studies of Huizhou since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, The Dual Transformation of Merchants and Culture—A Historical Examination of Huizhou Merchants and Clan Society, Studies on the Modern Shanghai Gangster Society, and Studies on the Old Shanghai Gangster Society have constructed social realities that contribute to a deeper understanding of the whole China. When conducting research on the whole China, we also make full use of regional materials to achieve a balance between macro and micro perspectives, such as in Merchants and Modern Chinese Society, History of Chinese Gangster Society, and Chinese Secret Societies.
2. Combining long-term and short-term studies. We believe that the emergence of capitalism in the 16th century marks the beginning of the transformation of traditional Chinese society. Whether studying regional societies, secret societies, or modern social problems or intellectuals, research should not be limited to the 100 years of rapid social change after 1840. Instead, the short-term period of rapid social change should be examined within the longer-term transformation from traditional agrarian society to modern society to overcome the limitations of traditional research, which often focuses on a shorter timeframe. Therefore, we have moved beyond examining only the social changes after the Opium War in 1840 to propose the concept of "Modern Chinese Society since the Ming and Qing Dynasties," stepping out of modern history while returning to it. For example, Merchants and Modern Chinese Society. Similarly, the study of regional socio-economic changes in Jiangnan since the Ming and Qing Dynasties has revealed the historical continuity and of socio-economic transformation in Jiangnan since the Opium War. The study of lower-class society in modern China begins with the formation of the floating population in the early Qing Dynasty and further examines the changes in the organization of the floating population after the Opium War. The study of folk secret societies traces back to even earlier historical periods. Research on social problems, such as drug issues, extends back to the initial introduction of opium into China. The study of intellectuals extends to the present day. Even for specific studies within a shorter, defined period, such as History of the Shanghai Xiaodao Society Uprising and History of the Nian Army Uprising, they are positioned within the broader historical context.
3. Combining studies of the upper and lower classes. Traditional historical studies have been limited to the upper classes, excluding the lower classes from research. The lower classes are the main subjects of history and an important aspect of social history. What was the basic state of the lower classes in the long-term historical period, and what was their reality during major social changes? How did they interact with society? These studies hold significant implications for today. The lower classes, including farmers, urbanites, and floating populations, as well as their families, clans, gangs, bandits, and religious groups, are closely related to the transformation of lower-class society. Meanwhile, intellectuals and merchants, who are connected to the lower classes, frequently engage in activities at the upper levels of society or directly occupy positions there. By studying these social groups, we can more comprehensively reveal the transformation of modern Chinese society, showcasing the differentiation, reorganization, and mentalities of various social groups during the transition period.
4. Emphasizing innovation in historical theory and methodology. The study of society in transition is an interdisciplinary research topic. In our research, we attempt to introduce new theories and employ interdisciplinary methods to deepen our understanding. For example, regional socio-economic studies do not simply discuss economic history but take merchants as a specific social group as the entry point, exploring the interaction between economic and social development from perspectives such as family systems, merchant organizations, and commercial spirit, transforming economic activities into the lived experiences of real people. In the study of floating populations and gangs, we do not merely list the significant activities of gangs in different periods but consider both the commonalities of floating populations and gangs and the profound influence of regional characteristics on the unique features of gangs in different areas. For the study of intellectuals, while grasping the general development of modern thought, we pay greater attention to their individual characteristics. Under the guidance of Marxist historical theory and methodology, we fully absorb and apply regional research methods, sociology, political science, genealogy, psychology, and other research methods, broadening our research paths and continuously innovating.
Based on long-term historical research practices, we not only focus on the inheritance and innovation of historical methods but also cultivate a rigorous and solid academic style, starting with the most fundamental source materials. Regional socio-economic studies with merchants as the entry point, lower-class society studies with floating populations and gangs as the entry point, as well as research on modern social problems and intellectuals, lack existing systematic source materials. Most of the work is original and requires starting from the most fundamental source materials. We have compiled works such as Selected Materials on Huizhou Merchants since the Ming and Qing Dynasties and Epigraphical Collection of Social History in Suzhou since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The formation of each professional direction has nearly all undergone a decade or more of accumulation, with some even spanning two or three generations. Many of our academic achievements have been widely cited and welcomed by scholars both domestically and internationally. In recent years, the colleagues of the Research Center of Modern Chinese Society have worked diligently, producing a series of outstanding results and continuing to develop the research characteristics we have long formed.
To strengthen academic exchanges with domestic and international historians, with the strong support of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Commercial Press, we plan to publish the Series of Modern Chinese Society Studies to gradually introduce the achievements of our colleagues. We hope that our contributions can add a touch of spring to the field of history.