Social Survey Series of the Republic of China Era (Volume on Cultural and Educational Affairs)

Author: Li Wenhai, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-12-01
Features: A group of pioneers in Chinese sociology research, using scientific methods of social investigation, have compiled a vast amount of empirical data, presenting a vivid picture of social life during the Republican era. This volume includes numerous engaging and enlightening articles such as Psychological Tendencies of 98 Sixth-Grade Students Toward Elementary School Teachers and Survey Report on the Nutritional and Caloric Content of Food and Meals Consumed by Tsinghua University Students.
Throughout the thousands of years of Chinese history, the first half of the 20th century marked by the Republic of China, though merely a fleeting moment, was undoubtedly the most turbulent and dramatic period of social upheaval and transformation. During this time, new systems coexisted with old traditions, construction and destruction walked hand in hand, revolution and counter-revolution clashed, and internal and external crises intensified. Every aspect of Chinese society—whether political systems, economic foundations, science and technology, or ideology and cultural customs—was undergoing significant changes and transformations, ultimately laying a solid foundation for the victory of the New Democratic Revolution.
As time passed, especially with the arrival of the 21st century, the history of the Republic of China gradually broke free from the framework of the broader history of the Chinese revolution. In a sense, the Republic of China has been recognized and accepted as an important historical period, parallel to the 26 previous dynasties in Chinese history. In both domestic and international academia, an increasing number of scholars have begun studying various aspects of this era from the perspective of a specific historical period.
It is particularly noteworthy that with the deepening of academic research and the need to adapt to the development of contemporary Chinese society, research interest in the Republican era has gradually shifted from the dramatic figures, thrilling political events, and anecdotal stories of the past to the deeper layers of economic and social life. As Marx once said, this represents a transition “from the external appearance of political forms to the depths of social life”, thereby making the study of the Republican era more closely linked to contemporary society, which is centered on economic development.
As a result, the history of the Republic of China has not only presented itself to the modern Chinese public in its original and complete form, becoming a new hot topic and growth point in the study of Chinese history and even in broader academic research, but it has also inevitably played an increasingly significant role in providing historical lessons for the economic construction and social development of contemporary China. Consequently, it has garnered ever-increasing attention from all sectors of society.
However, it is regrettable that to date, despite the comprehensive collection and publication of historical materials on the Republican era, which include archives, local gazettes, newspapers and magazines, official documents, private writings, and memoirs from the People’s Republic era, these materials are all extremely valuable. Yet, few have recognized another unique treasure trove of Republican-era resources—vast amounts of social surveys conducted by major political forces, political factions, local governments, academic organizations, schools, and individual scholars, particularly rural social surveys.
Compared to other materials that have already been compiled, these surveys possess unique and irreplaceable academic and collection value. This is not only because they cover a wide range of topics, including the natural and social environments of urban and rural areas across most provinces in China, but also because they were largely completed using modern scientific methods such as modern economics, anthropology, and sociology. Moreover, they were typically presented in the form of survey reports or academic papers, preserving a large amount of survey data and original materials while also embodying the analyses, insights, and recommendations of relatively advanced Chinese intellectuals of that time regarding various natural, social, political, and economic issues. These surveys hold significant practical reference value and are invaluable firsthand sources for studying and understanding the social issues of urban and rural China in the past. They also serve as an extremely rare intellectual repository for contemporary socioeconomic development.
In fact, Republican-era survey materials have already moved beyond the realm of historians and have attracted the attention of scholars in other disciplines. Thanks to the foresight and strong support of Fujian Education Press, we now have the opportunity to jointly undertake this historical responsibility. However, given the vast and diverse nature of social surveys from this period, as well as their scattered and sometimes even lost overseas, it would be impossible and impractical to aim for complete coverage while meeting the urgent needs of contemporary academia. Therefore, we have decided to adopt the format of an anthology and publish the materials in stages.
The 193 works included in this collection are broadly divided into 10 volumes based on their survey content, covering topics such as marriage and family, social security, social organizations, religion and folklore, marginalized societies, urban labor life, rural society, population, cultural and educational institutions, and ethnic minorities.