Liangshan Yi entrepreneur -- bearer of social and institutional change

Author: (German) Heibeler
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book includes four papers written by four Yi scholars, each with unique characteristics. These papers introduce the historical development of social and economic changes in Liangshan, traditional economic activities and organizations of the Yi people, traditional economic concepts of the Yi, and the economic functions of the Yi's unique "jiazhi" (clan) organizations. They provide many social phenomena observed by the authors themselves, along with analysis. Professor Wang Hai's manuscript "Entrepreneurs of the Yi in Liangshan" is the core of this book. Together with the Yi scholars they collaborated with, he visited 138 private entrepreneurs in 10 counties of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and conducted questionnaire surveys using Western sociological research methods. The questions covered all aspects of the local society, economy, policies, and ethnic relations, being specific and in-depth. This fieldwork provided us with a wealth of tables and data.
Chinese people have historically advocated for "harmony in diversity," supporting cultural diversity and inclusiveness. This Eastern wisdom has created a civilization that has endured for a thousand years and supports a population of 1.3 billion. It is believed that this ancient human wisdom will also provide solutions to potential future civilizational conflicts.