Social Survey Series of the Republic of China Period (Volume on Social Organization)

Author: Li Wenhai, Editor-in-Chief, Xia Mingfang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: In the long history of thousands of years of China, the first half of the 20th century marked by the Republic of China was merely a fleeting moment, but undoubtedly one of the most turbulent and dramatic scenes in terms of social life. During this period, new systems coexisted with old traditions, construction and destruction went hand in hand, revolution and reaction clashed, internal troubles and external threats converged, and every aspect of Chinese society, whether political systems, economic foundations, science and technology, or ideology and cultural customs, underwent 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 "Republic of China" gradually broke free from the framework of the history of the Chinese revolution and came to be recognized and accepted as an important historical period alongside the previous 26 dynasties in Chinese history. In academic circles both domestically and internationally, particularly in China, an increasing number of scholars have begun to study various aspects of this period from the perspective of a specific historical era. It is also worth noting that with the deepening of academic research and in response to the needs of contemporary Chinese society, the focus of research on the Republican era has gradually shifted from the dramatic historical figures, thrilling political events, and entertaining anecdotes of the past to the economic and social life, as Marx would say, "moving from the superficial appearance of political forms to the depths of social life." This has made 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 been presented to the modern Chinese people in its original and complete form, becoming a new hot topic and growth point in the study of Chinese history and even the entire academic field, but it has also inevitably played an increasingly significant historical role in guiding the economic construction and social development of contemporary China, thereby attracting broader attention from all sectors of society. However, it is regrettable that to date, despite the extensive collection and publication of historical materials related to the Republican era, including archives, local chronicles, newspapers and magazines, official documents, private writings, and memoirs from the People's Republic period, these materials have been largely overlooked by scholars. There is another unique treasure trove of materials from the Republican era—massive social surveys conducted by major political forces and factions at home and abroad, local governments, academic organizations, schools, and individual scholars, particularly rural social surveys. Compared to other materials that have already been compiled, these surveys hold unique and irreplaceable academic and collection value. This is not only because they cover a vast range of topics, encompassing the natural and social environments of urban and rural areas across most provinces in China, but also because these surveys were largely completed using modern scientific methods such as modern economics, anthropology, and sociology, and were typically presented in the form of survey reports or academic papers. This approach preserved a wealth of survey data and original materials while also reflecting the analyses, insights, and recommendations of relatively advanced Chinese intellectuals of the time on various natural, social, political, and economic issues, offering significant practical reference value. These surveys are invaluable primary sources for in-depth research and understanding of urban and rural social issues in old China, as well as an extremely rare intellectual repository for contemporary socioeconomic development. In fact, the survey materials from the Republican era have already moved beyond the confines of historical studies and have attracted the attention of scholars in other disciplines.