Social Survey Series of the Republic of China Era -- Social Security Volume

Author: Li Wenhai, Editor-in-Chief, Xia Mingfang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not Available
Features: A group of pioneers in Chinese sociology research, using scientific methods of social investigation, gathered a vast amount of empirical data through arduous fieldwork, presenting a vivid picture of social life during the Republican era. In the long history of China, 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 in terms of social life. During this time, new systems coexisted with old traditions, construction walked alongside destruction, revolution clashed with reaction, internal crises and external threats intertwined. 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, "History of the Republic of China" gradually broke free from the framework of the Chinese Revolution, and the Republic of China came to be recognized as an important historical period alongside the previous 26 dynasties in Chinese history. In academia both domestically and internationally, an increasing number of scholars have begun to study various aspects of this period from the perspective of a specific historical era. 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, expanding into or rather delving deeper into economic and social life. In Marx's words, this means "moving from the superficial 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 in its original and complete form, becoming a new hotspot and growth point in the study of Chinese history and even the broader academic field, but it has also inevitably played an increasingly significant historical reference role in 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 on the Republican era, including archives, local chronicles, newspapers and magazines, official documents, private writings, and memoirs from the People's Republic, these materials have been largely overlooked. There is another unique treasure trove of Republican-era materials—massive social surveys conducted by major political forces, political factions, local governments, academic organizations, schools, and individual scholars, particularly rural social surveys. Compared to other already compiled materials, these surveys hold unique and irreplaceable academic and collection value.
This is not only because the surveys covered an extremely broad scope, encompassing natural environments and social life in most provinces, including urban and rural areas, but also because these surveys were mostly 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 vast amount of survey data and original materials while also consolidating 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 firsthand original materials 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 construction.
In fact, the survey materials from the Republican era have already moved beyond the realm of historians and have garnered attention from 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 diverse and vast number of social surveys from this period, as well as their scattered and even overseas storage, it is impossible to aim for complete coverage, nor can it meet the urgent needs of the current academic community. Therefore, we have decided to adopt the format of an "edited series," publishing the materials in stages.
The edited series includes a total of 193 works, which are broadly divided into 10 volumes based on their survey content, covering 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. These works include books published during the Republican era, as well as papers scattered across various newspapers and magazines, and some handwritten manuscripts and mimeographed copies that have not yet been publicly published. Works such as the "Ding County Social Survey," which were republished after the liberation and became widely circulated, are temporarily excluded from this collection.