The real history is sometimes not at the level of political records, but in the "".One of the six survivorsSuch a cold social fact. The growth and decline of population, the migration of people, the solidification or movement between classes, the prosperity or decay of the market, ......These fresh perspectives help us see through history and gain insight into the historical truth behind social problems.
Therefore, I recommend "Chinese Social History" by Liang Gengyao, a professor in the Department of History of National Taiwan University. From a sociological point of view, the book reveals a historical truth in simple terms:Every upheaval is preceded by the following seven signs:
Population: Population decline and migration
In the long history of ancient China, the rise and fall of dynasties and demographic changes have always been closely linked. On the one hand, the political clarity of the early dynasty was due to a period of sharp population decline, with fewer people and more people, and relatively little pressure of social competition. At this time, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the economy gradually recovered, laying the foundation for the prosperity of the dynasty.
Over time, the population gradually increased, the society prospered, and the middle of the dynasty was ushered in. However, with the continuous growth of the population, social contradictions have gradually intensified, and the pressure of "involution" has gradually emerged. Land resources are limited, while the population is rising, resulting in uneven distribution of resources and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. At this time, if effective measures are not taken to regulate it, the society will face the danger of turmoil and **.
By the end of the dynasty, overpopulation caused a series of social problems, which eventually led to the collapse of society and the outbreak of war. Wars and disasters led to a significant decline in population, reducing pressure on resources and creating the conditions for the rise of new dynasties. At the beginning of the new dynasty, the politics were clear, the population gradually recovered, and history continued in cycles.
Taking the Eastern Han Dynasty as an example, the country still had a population of 56 million during the period of Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty. However, by the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the influence of plague, war and famine, the population of the country was less than 8 million. From the Yellow Turban Rebellion caused by the plague to the later warlord melee, the Chinese population dropped by more than 85%.
Market: Shrinking of the market and "stockpiling".
Since the end of the Spring and Autumn period, coins have played an important role in the market, however, by the end of the Han Dynasty, the function of coins has rapidly declined. Physical currencies such as grain and cloth gradually replaced coins and became the main medium of exchange. There are profound social and historical reasons behind the emergence of this phenomenon.
From an economic point of view, market booms usually occur only in peacetime. In times of war, markets are often severely shocked and disrupted, resulting in restrictions on trading activities. In this case, people are more concerned with the acquisition of subsistence resources than with the buying and selling of goods. As a result, physical currencies such as grain and cloth became more reliable and practical means of exchange.
From a social point of view, the society is turbulent in times of war, and the safety of people's lives and property cannot be guaranteed. In such a situation, the focus is more on survival and security than on the accumulation of wealth. Therefore, the tragedy of changing children and eating also happened from time to time, which further highlighted the cruelty and ruthlessness of the society at that time.
The rapid decline of the numismatic function in the late Han Dynasty was the result of a combination of factors. In times of war, the shrinking of the market and the need for people's survival made physical currencies such as grain and cloth a more practical medium of exchange. At the same time, social upheaval and people's attention also led to the gradual decline of the status of coins. The emergence of this phenomenon not only reflects the actual situation of the society at that time, but also provides important clues for us to understand history.
Class: Door and class solidification.
Every time a dynasty is destroyed and a new dynasty is established, it is like a huge social change, and behind it is a reshuffle of classes. When the old dynasty disappeared in the torrent of history, those former nobles were guillotined, and their power and status were wiped out overnight. At the same time, the founders of the new dynasty became the nouveau riche of society like heroes who entered the Jinluan Palace.
The process is brutal and intense, and it resembles a never-ending power game. In this game, the replacement of the old and new nobles is inevitable. It is worth noting, however, that even if the new nobility had unparalleled power and status in the early days of the dynasty, they tended to gradually become the old nobility over time.
This is because the maintenance of power and status requires not only wisdom and courage, but also a deep understanding of society and a long-term vision. And over time, the new aristocracy gradually lost control over the resources of society because of short-sightedness and selfishness. As a result, those former upstarts, after a period of glory, gradually fell to the bottom of society.
This process is a historical necessity as well as a social necessity. It tells us that power and status are not eternal, and only those who truly contribute to society and have love for the people can truly master social resources for a long time.
Geography: The social center began to shift
Almost every large-scale migration of population to the south is the beginning of a troubled era, and the imprint of history is profound and clear. Whether it is the Three Kingdoms period, the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, or the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, every large-scale southward migration of population marks a period of historical turmoil and change. During the Three Kingdoms period, the war in the north caused a large number of people to move south in search of a peaceful place to liveDuring the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, wars were frequent in the north, while the south was relatively stable, and a large number of people poured into the southThis was also the case during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, when the wars in the north made the trend of population migration to the south more and more obvious.
The Anshi Rebellion was an important southward migration event in history, which caused the population of the south to completely surpass that of the north. During that turbulent era, many northerners migrated to the south to escape the war. Over time, the south gradually became one of the main settlements of the Chinese population. By the Yuan Dynasty, the population of the south accounted for almost eight-tenths of the total Chinese population, a figure that is enough to show the large and dense population of the south at that time.
The southward migration of the population was accompanied by economic migration. As the population of the North declined and the economic center shifted south, the economy of the North gradually lagged behind that of the South. The economy of the southern region gradually rose and became the center of gravity of China's economy. This trend has historically been referred to as "the south is strong and the north is weak", and it still affects China's economic landscape today.
Southward migration is an important phenomenon in Chinese history. It not only reflects the vicissitudes and turbulences of history, but also profoundly affects China's economic landscape. From the Three Kingdoms to the Yuan Dynasty, every southward migration was accompanied by economic migration and a shift in the center of gravity, a trend that continues today.
Land: AgrarianQualitative change and merger
In the torrent of history, many kings have risen to the pinnacle of power, and they have a common dream in their hearts: to improve the situation of land annexation and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. However, the cogs of fate often went against their wishes, and in the pursuit of their ideals, these kings not only failed to achieve their original intentions, but instead put themselves and their dynasties in a situation from which they could never recover.
Some of these kings are because they are too eager for quick success, some are greedy for power, and some are because they are helpless to compromise with reality. They have tried to curb the momentum of land annexation through various means, but often it has backfired. Their decisions may have some positive effects in the short term, but in the long run, they often lead to a series of unpredictable consequences.
Thanks to their efforts, the situation of land annexation may have been alleviated to some extent, but it was followed by a redistribution of power and an adjustment of the political structure. These changes, often beyond the control of the king, led to the intensification of contradictions between various interest groups, and eventually led to civil strife and war.
Infrastructure: Large-scale projects continue to be launched
In ancient times, the national strength of a country was closely linked to its productive forces, while the people's power was mainly derived from its population. Together, these factors form the basis of a country and determine the strength of a country. However, the construction of large-scale projects requires a lot of national and civil power, and if these resources are not enough to support the construction of these projects, then society may collapse as a result.
In fact, we can observe that the fall of many dynasties was associated with the construction of large-scale luxury works. These projects often require huge investments, including human, material and financial resources, and the excessive consumption of these resources often leads to serious threats to the economic and social stability of the country. In such a situation, the state may adopt various means to raise funds, such as increasing taxes, borrowing, etc., but these practices often increase the burden on the people, lead to the intensification of social contradictions, and eventually lead to social unrest and political crisis.
Culture:Rumors and prophecies are rife
Proverbs, a language shrouded in mystery since ancient times, contain far-reaching historical background and cultural connotations. Historically, many dynastic subversives have skillfully used proverbs as a means of launching rebellions and seizing power
Subversives know that proverbs are extremely demagogic and inflammatory. They sow panic and chaos in society by spreading prophecies that seem mystical but actually imply political intentions. These proverbs, often in various forms, such as nursery rhymes, diagrams, divination, etc., spread among the people, convincing people that regime change was the destiny of heaven.
Under the inducement of these proverbs, many people who had been at peace with themselves were drawn into the vortex of turmoil. They blindly believe that what they hear and see is the will of God, so it is natural to follow the direction of the prophecy. This undoubtedly provides an excellent opportunity for subversives to easily rally the population and grow their power. And so on were "forced" by the proverbial destiny of heaven, and "had to" ascend to the throne.
We can never predict exactly what the future will bring, because the future is full of possibilities and unknowns. However, we can gain some basis for judging the future by studying what has happened in the past. In this sense, the history of the past is an important reference for our decision-making and actions.
Chinese people have a special love for history, not only because history is the inheritance of our national culture, but also because history contains countless valuable experiences and lessons. Through in-depth study of history, we can understand the development process of human society, understand the roots of various social phenomena, and the future trends and trends.
However, we must not be overshadowed by history. While history is our precious asset, we must not allow the shadow of history to hinder our progress. In the face of the future, we need to keep an open mind and innovative thinking, constantly explore new possibilities, and have the courage to try and experiment. Only in this way can we remain invincible in the challenges of the future and create more brilliant achievements.
Tang Taizong admonished future generations to "learn from history", but in fact, the mirror of history is often like the "magic mirror" in Snow White's fairy tales, reflecting the wishes of those who read history.
In the long history of history, we often hear the terms macro historiography and micro historiography. Macro historiography, like a far-sighted aerial camera, shows us a broad picture of history, from the changes of the great era to the change of dynasties, from the development of civilization to the progress of science and technology, all of which are in its field of vision. Microhistoriography, on the other hand, is like a cell slice that goes deep into the bone marrow, focusing on the fate of individuals and the subtle changes in society, digging out those forgotten corners of history, and allowing those voices that were once ignored to be heard.
However, among the many historical works, "Chinese Social History" brings us a different perspective - the meso-perspective. This perspective is neither a macro bird's-eye view nor a micro in-depth, but stands in a just right position, which can not only see the overall context of history, but also gain insight into its inner texture. It fills a gap in this field of Chinese history, revealing historical events and phenomena that are overlooked in the grand narrative but play a key role in the social process.
A History of Chinese Society is like a clever painter, outlining the contours of history with delicate brushstrokes and filling in its interior with rich colors. It not only allows us to see the magnificence of history, but also allows us to feel the temperature and breath of history. It makes us understand that history is not just about words and events that are recorded on the books, but also about the lives and emotions of generations. Therefore, "A History of Chinese Society" is not only a historical work, but also an epic about human nature, emotions and life.
For this reason, I sincerely recommend "A History of Chinese Society", the author of this book, Professor Liang Gengyao, who was born in Guangdong and has taught history at National Taiwan University for decades. This book is a masterpiece of his lifelong academic thinking, and the simplified Chinese version is introduced to Chinese mainland for the first time. Click on the product card below to collect it with one click.