Regional Culture and Social Change : A Study of Miao-Inhabited Areas of Southwest China

This book explores Shimenkan―a Miao-inhabited area in Weining County, China―and its rural society from a comprehensive and long-term perspective, drawing on research conducted by the author in the course of ten years. Located in the northwest of Weining County in Guizhou Province, Shimenkan is a multiethnic area, where, e.g., the Hans, Miaos, Yis, Huis, and Buyis live. Until the early twentieth century, it was a small mountain village; the introduction of Christianity led to significant cultural and social changes in this area. Focusing on China in the twentieth century, the book addresses the traditional culture of the Miao people, the popularity of Christianity in early modern times, the management and control by the government, the socialist reform in the period of the People’s Republic of China, and the changes following the reform and opening-up in recent years. Covering a century’s worth of history, it discusses the major historical events in Northeastern Yunnan and Northwestern Guizhou around Shimenkan and analyzes local social structures, religions, ideologies, customs, and ethnic psychologies, making it a valuable addition to the study of regional social history. The book draws on archives, literature reviews, and field surveys and pursues a multi-disciplinary approach combining history, anthropology, and other disciplines. It offers a valuable resource for researchers in history, religion, and ethnology, as well as readers interested in the spread of Christianity in the Miao-inhabited areas of southwestern China. Preface Contents 1 The Sleeping Shimenkan 1 Environment and Economy of Shimenkan 2 Historical Evolution of Shimenkan 3 Distribution of the Miao in Modern China 4 The Flowery Miao in Shimenkan 2 Gospel from Zhaotong 1 The Methodist Church and Its Organization 2 Missionaries’ Preaching in Zhaotong 3 The Methodist Missionary Society Southwest District 4 The Position of Zhaotong 3 The Formation of Shimenkan Christian Cultural Area 1 Founding and Development in Shimenkan 2 Spread of Christianity to Surrounding Areas 3 The Establishment of the Shichuan Circuit 4 Reasons Christianity Spread Widely 4.1 Geographical Location and Ethnic Distribution 4.2 The MMS’s Organizational System and Operational Model 4.3 An Analysis of the Christian Believer 5 The Impact of Christianity on Miao Communities 5.1 Change in Religious Beliefs 5.2 Cultural and Educational Improvement 5.3 The Awakening of Political Consciousness 5.4 Reform of Lifestyle and Customs 5.5 Changes in Ethnic Consciousness and Psychology 4 Chinesization Promoted by the Kuomintang in Shimenkan 1 Ethnic and Religious Policies of the Kuomintang Government 2 Shimenkan: A Special Cultural Area 3 Special Policies for Shimenkan 4 The Decline of the Shimenkan Church 5 Contemporary Transformation of Shimenkan 1 The Ethnic and Religious Policies of New China 2 Publicity of Ethnic and Religious Policies 3 Survey of the Religious Situation in Shimenkan 4 Reforms of the Shimenkan Church 6 Public Ownership in Shimenkan 1 The Land Reform Movement 2 Various Social Reforms 3 The Agricultural Cooperative Movement 4 The People’s Commune Movement 5 Reflections on Collectivization 6 Development and Decline of the Church 7 Shimenkan After the Reform and Opening Up 1 The Reform and Opening Up in Shimenkan 2 Religious Situation in the Early Stage of Reform and Opening Up 3 Pilot Program for Religious Work and Implementation of Religious Policies 4 The Restoration and Development of the Church 5 Social Changes in Contemporary Shimenkan 6 Reasons for Social Changes to the Miao Community Closing Remarks References This book explores Shimenkana Miao-inhabited area in Weining County, China and its rural society from a comprehensive and long-term perspective, drawing on research conducted by the author in the course of ten years. Located in the northwest of Weining County in Guizhou Province, Shimenkan is a multiethnic area, where, e.g., the Hans, Miaos, Yis, Huis, and Buyis live. Until the early twentieth century, it was a small mountain village; the introduction of Christianity led to significant cultural and social changes in this area. Focusing on China in the twentieth century, the book addresses the traditional culture of the Miao people, the popularity of Christianity in early modern times, the management and control by the government, the socialist reform in the period of the Peoples Republic of China, and the changes following the reform and opening-up in recent years. Covering a centurys worth of history, it discusses the major historical events in Northeastern Yunnan and Northwestern Guizhou around Shimenkan and analyzes local social structures, religions, ideologies, customs, and ethnic psychologies, making it a valuable addition to the study of regional social history. The book draws on archives, literature reviews, and field surveys and pursues a multi-disciplinary approach combining history, anthropology, and other disciplines. It offers a valuable resource for researchers in history, religion, and ethnology, as well as readers interested in the spread of Christianity in the Miao-inhabited areas of southwestern China