TaitouTaitou

A Chinese Peasant VillageA Chinese Peasant Village

IntroductionIntroduction

• Taitou is (or was) a village of Taitou is (or was) a village of independent peasantsindependent peasants

• It was part of a region of 20 communities It was part of a region of 20 communities dominated by a market towndominated by a market town

• Unlike Mesoamerica, there was no Unlike Mesoamerica, there was no leveling device such as obligatory service leveling device such as obligatory service entailing financial expendituresentailing financial expenditures

• Though stratified, wealthy families might Though stratified, wealthy families might break down into smaller, less wealthy break down into smaller, less wealthy familiesfamilies

• All families were highly entrepreneurialAll families were highly entrepreneurial

Location of TaitouLocation of Taitou

• Taitou is located in Shantung (now Shandong) Taitou is located in Shantung (now Shandong) province in northeastern Chinaprovince in northeastern China

• Though dense, Taitou comprised independent peasantsThough dense, Taitou comprised independent peasants

Land Tenure and Land Tenure and DistributionDistribution

• All land was privately All land was privately ownedowned

• Each family had land in Each family had land in different ecological zonesdifferent ecological zones

• Lighter, terraced, sandy Lighter, terraced, sandy plots on hillsides plots on hillsides supported peanuts and supported peanuts and sweet potatoessweet potatoes

• Moist bottom soils Moist bottom soils supported rice supported rice cultivation cultivation

• Flatlands yielded millet Flatlands yielded millet and wheatand wheat

• Most families enjoyed Most families enjoyed both diversified and both diversified and secure crop yieldssecure crop yields

Intensive Cultivation Intensive Cultivation TechniquesTechniques

• With ample labor and small plots, every With ample labor and small plots, every plot involved multiple cropping with plot involved multiple cropping with some fallowingsome fallowing

• Fertilizer was required for all crops and Fertilizer was required for all crops and had to be acquired from all sources had to be acquired from all sources possible: animal and human waste, ashes possible: animal and human waste, ashes from fires, all put into compostfrom fires, all put into compost

• All families owned a few animals, also All families owned a few animals, also intensely used for plowing and harrowingintensely used for plowing and harrowing

Wealth DistinctionsWealth Distinctions

• Land ownership: a few with 20 acres, a Land ownership: a few with 20 acres, a smaller number with 10, and the majority smaller number with 10, and the majority with 2.with 2.

• All families has the same diet, but the All families has the same diet, but the better off enjoyed fish and breadbetter off enjoyed fish and bread

• Stratification was deemphasizedStratification was deemphasized• However, the wealthier did display their However, the wealthier did display their

wealth in the form of multi-roomed wealth in the form of multi-roomed houses, fine clothing, and fat oxenhouses, fine clothing, and fat oxen

• These differences provoked envy, but These differences provoked envy, but unlike Mesoamerica, these differences unlike Mesoamerica, these differences were not hiddenwere not hidden

Family StructureFamily Structure

• Taitou is based mostly on nuclear familiesTaitou is based mostly on nuclear families• Family may be extended to include one Family may be extended to include one

married son—a stem familymarried son—a stem family• Other sons leave to form their own familyOther sons leave to form their own family• Gender division of labor: women handling Gender division of labor: women handling

domestic chores, men doing agriculture or domestic chores, men doing agriculture or engaged in commercial trade and politicsengaged in commercial trade and politics

• All members contribute to household by All members contribute to household by performing different jobsperforming different jobs

Village Division of LaborVillage Division of Labor

• All households produce for the All households produce for the market: pigs, peanuts, soy beansmarket: pigs, peanuts, soy beans

• Women bought cotton and spun it Women bought cotton and spun it for themselves, but they hired dyers for themselves, but they hired dyers and weaversand weavers

• Specialists made and repaired toolsSpecialists made and repaired tools• Other specialists: soy oil pressers, Other specialists: soy oil pressers,

carpenter, masons, schoolteacher, carpenter, masons, schoolteacher, public officialspublic officials

Markets and Market TownMarkets and Market Town

• Taitou was one of 20 towns within the Taitou was one of 20 towns within the sphere of a market town, Hsinanchensphere of a market town, Hsinanchen

• This town was larger than the other This town was larger than the other villages and contained shops, from villages and contained shops, from bakeries to bookstoresbakeries to bookstores

• A large market place opened upon regular A large market place opened upon regular market days market days

• Market days were coordinated with those Market days were coordinated with those in other market towns in the region so in other market towns in the region so itinerant traders could trade in all of itinerant traders could trade in all of themthem

Functions of Market TownsFunctions of Market Towns

• Traders, all men, bought and soldTraders, all men, bought and sold• They also met in tea or wine shops to They also met in tea or wine shops to

exchange information about the regional exchange information about the regional economic conditions and opportunitieseconomic conditions and opportunities

• Men obtained credit from shops essential Men obtained credit from shops essential to maintaining their own productionto maintaining their own production

• Even if men had nothing to buy or sell, Even if men had nothing to buy or sell, they went to town with empty baskets to they went to town with empty baskets to exchange information and maintain their exchange information and maintain their creditcredit

Regional Markets and Regional Markets and Economic ElitesEconomic Elites

• Market towns were part of a wider Market towns were part of a wider network network

• Elites formed part of this networkElites formed part of this network• Central places formed even wider Central places formed even wider

hierarchieshierarchies• No patron-client relationship existedNo patron-client relationship existed• The elite were economic rather than The elite were economic rather than

political, although there were political, although there were administrative centersadministrative centers

Marriage and Family Marriage and Family RelationsRelations

• All marriages were arranged, and the couple All marriages were arranged, and the couple might not see each other until the weddingmight not see each other until the wedding

• Marriage set strategic alliances between Marriage set strategic alliances between familiesfamilies

• Bride labor was common: before marriage, Bride labor was common: before marriage, the betrothed male worked for the wife’s the betrothed male worked for the wife’s family, turning all earnings over to the bride-family, turning all earnings over to the bride-to-be’s fatherto-be’s father

• Residence was patrilocal, and the son Residence was patrilocal, and the son continued to turn all his income over to his continued to turn all his income over to his fatherfather

• Daughter-in-law was under the control of Daughter-in-law was under the control of their mother-in-lawtheir mother-in-law

Family FormationFamily Formation

• Gradually, the son’s loyalty to family eroded Gradually, the son’s loyalty to family eroded and he sought to obtain land for his own and he sought to obtain land for his own farmfarm

• The father was authoritarian, and the son The father was authoritarian, and the son sought to escape this arrangementsought to escape this arrangement

• The daughter-in-law also encouraged the The daughter-in-law also encouraged the split, being that the mother-in-law was very split, being that the mother-in-law was very strict toward herstrict toward her

• Daughters and daughters in law had their Daughters and daughters in law had their own financial sources from odd jobs that own financial sources from odd jobs that were theirs to keepwere theirs to keep

• That eliminated the father’s absolute That eliminated the father’s absolute domination over the coupledomination over the couple

Advantages of Extended Advantages of Extended FamiliesFamilies

• Enforced frugality to increase Enforced frugality to increase savings and assetssavings and assets

• Division of labor into specialized Division of labor into specialized economic activitieseconomic activities

• One example: one son would work One example: one son would work the land; other sons took up the land; other sons took up commerce, trade, farm workers for commerce, trade, farm workers for others, crafts and the artsothers, crafts and the arts

• Ability to obtain more landAbility to obtain more land

Expansion into ClansExpansion into Clans• Related nuclear families evolved into clansRelated nuclear families evolved into clans• Functions: to provide mutual aid and care for Functions: to provide mutual aid and care for

the less well-off members (widows, orphans, the less well-off members (widows, orphans, elderly, the sick)elderly, the sick)

• Dyadic contracts with unrelated neighbors, Dyadic contracts with unrelated neighbors, such as interest-free loanssuch as interest-free loans

• Clan design follows: Clan design follows:

Village Level FunctionsVillage Level Functions

• Village was united for common purposeVillage was united for common purpose• In 1945, the village was united to In 1945, the village was united to

defend against banditsdefend against bandits• United because of weakness of national United because of weakness of national

government government • (There was a civil war going on between (There was a civil war going on between

Nationalists and Communist)Nationalists and Communist)• Set up barricades and night patrolsSet up barricades and night patrols• Developed alliances with neighboring Developed alliances with neighboring

villagesvillages• Hired full-time crop watchers to defend Hired full-time crop watchers to defend

crops against pests and thievescrops against pests and thieves

Leadership and Social Leadership and Social ControlControl

• Social control maintained by gossip, Social control maintained by gossip, “loss of face” (public shame), and “loss of face” (public shame), and ostracismostracism

• Legal proceedings and appeals to public Legal proceedings and appeals to public officials were rareofficials were rare

• Disputes were resolved by village elders Disputes were resolved by village elders honored for their wealth and proper honored for their wealth and proper behavior rather than government behavior rather than government officialsofficials

• Governmental officials were ranked Governmental officials were ranked lowest in the village hierarchy.lowest in the village hierarchy.

• Patron client relations existed between Patron client relations existed between the wealthy and the poor, kin or not. the wealthy and the poor, kin or not.

Changes under Communist Changes under Communist GovernmentGovernment

• Initially, Taitou was left aloneInitially, Taitou was left alone• Then villages were organized as Then villages were organized as

communes under the leadership communes under the leadership of centrally appointed cadresof centrally appointed cadres

• Each village was assigned a Each village was assigned a specialized crop: Taitou provided specialized crop: Taitou provided wheat, barley, and sweet potatoeswheat, barley, and sweet potatoes

• Peanuts, soybeans, millet, and Peanuts, soybeans, millet, and fruits and vegetables were not fruits and vegetables were not allowedallowed

• Householders could no longer Householders could no longer own small plots of land or raised own small plots of land or raised pigs and other animalspigs and other animals

• Here, members of a similar Here, members of a similar commune go to work in Longang commune go to work in Longang Farming Commune, Lionang Farming Commune, Lionang ProvinceProvince

Communist Policies: Communist Policies: ImpactsImpacts

• Soy oil pressers forced to close as the result Soy oil pressers forced to close as the result of prohibition of soybean productionof prohibition of soybean production

• During the 1966 Cultural Revolution, During the 1966 Cultural Revolution, carpentry shops were closed as “capitalist carpentry shops were closed as “capitalist roaders.”roaders.”

• By the 1980s, the village enjoyed moderate By the 1980s, the village enjoyed moderate prosperity from its grain productionprosperity from its grain production

• Opening of a nearby factory provided added Opening of a nearby factory provided added employment (but no investment technology)employment (but no investment technology)

• Taitou was passed over for the status of a Taitou was passed over for the status of a “model village.” in favor of a nearby “model village.” in favor of a nearby impoverished villageimpoverished village

Communist Policies: Communist Policies: LiberalizationLiberalization

• In 1980 and after, Taitou was allowed In 1980 and after, Taitou was allowed greater autonomygreater autonomy

• Private plots were allowed, and Private plots were allowed, and “sideline” production increased in “sideline” production increased in livestock, poultry, and cropslivestock, poultry, and crops

• Small shops appeared, and some men Small shops appeared, and some men were hired for construction projects were hired for construction projects outside the villageoutside the village

• Liberalization had an important Liberalization had an important impact on village incomeimpact on village income

Liberalization: ResultsLiberalization: Results• Householders felt themselves to be more Householders felt themselves to be more

in control of their economy—”a rice bowl in control of their economy—”a rice bowl of their own” replaced the “iron rice of their own” replaced the “iron rice bowl” of official policybowl” of official policy

• Women had greater economic Women had greater economic independenceindependence

• Cadre influence declined in favor of Cadre influence declined in favor of household autonomous managementhousehold autonomous management

• Redistribution is again being replaced by Redistribution is again being replaced by reciprocity and exchangereciprocity and exchange

• Television and other media are providing Television and other media are providing households with alternative sources of households with alternative sources of information and entertainmentinformation and entertainment

ConclusionConclusion

• Despite a Communist hiatus, the Despite a Communist hiatus, the household remains the basic social household remains the basic social economic unit of Taitoueconomic unit of Taitou

• Although envy is evident, there are Although envy is evident, there are no leveling mechanisms that no leveling mechanisms that characterized Mesoamerican peasantcharacterized Mesoamerican peasant

• There is a strong emphasis on There is a strong emphasis on entrepreneurshipentrepreneurship

• Wealth distinctions remain Wealth distinctions remain predominantpredominant