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

This book explores Shimenkan, a multiethnic area in Weining County, China, and its rural society from a comprehensive and long-term perspective, drawing on research conducted by the author over ten years. It covers a century of history, discussing the traditional culture of the Miao people, the popularity of Christianity in early modern times, government management and control, socialist reform, and changes following the reform and opening-up. 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.

Format: Hardback
Length: 273 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive and long-term study delves into the Shimenkan region, a Miao-inhabited area in Weining County, China, exploring its rural society from a multi-faceted perspective. Conducted over a span of ten years, the author's research provides a rich tapestry of insights into this diverse and historically significant region. Situated in the northwest of Weining County in Guizhou Province, Shimenkan is a melting pot of multiple ethnic groups, including the Hans, Miaos, Yis, Huis, and Buyis. Historically, it was a small mountain village, but the arrival of Christianity in the early twentieth century brought about profound cultural and social transformations.

The book takes a deep dive into China's twentieth century, focusing on the Miao people's traditional culture, the popularity of Christianity during the early modern era, the government's management and control, the socialist reform during the People's Republic of China, and the subsequent changes brought about by the reform and opening-up in recent years. Spanning a century of history, the book delves into the major historical events that unfolded in Northeastern Yunnan and Northwestern Guizhou, closely surrounding Shimenkan. It employs a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing from archives, literature reviews, and field surveys, to analyze local social structures, religions, ideologies, customs, and ethnic psychologies.

By undertaking this comprehensive analysis, the book offers valuable insights into regional social history, shedding light on the complex interplay between culture, religion, and society in this Miao-inhabited area. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers in history, religion, and ethnology, as well as readers interested in the spread of Christianity in the Miao-inhabited regions of southwestern China.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811989827
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023