This book explores Shimenkana Miao-inhabited area in Weining County, Chinaand 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 andNorthwestern 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.

Focuses on the spread of Christianity in ethnic areas in southwestern China in the early modern era Reveals how the spread of Christianity led to both cultural and social changes in the Miao-inhabited areas Explores Shimenkan, a Miao-inhabited area in Weining County of Guizhou Province

Autorentext

Yuhua Ma is Professor in history and Tutor of postgraduate studies at School of History and Archives in Yunnan University. Ms. Ma is Doctor of Laws. Her main focus of teaching and research is about the recent and modern history of China. Her special expertise is in history of China's southwestern borders and history of southwestern ethnology in modern China.

Klappentext

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 andNorthwestern 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.

Inhalt
Preface.- Geography, Economy and Nationality of Shimenkan of Weining.- Methodist Churches in Zhaotong.- Shimenkan and Christianity.- Governance of the Miao nationality by the national government in Weining.- The Miao Nationality in Weining in Early People's Republic of China.- Social Reform of the Miao nationality in Weining.- Cooperative and People's Movement in Weining.- Socialist Education Movement" and "the Cultural Revolution" in Weining.- Reform and Opening up of Weining.- Shimenkan after Reform and Opening up.- Conclusion.