阎云翔

Public information about Yan Yunxiang is limited, but his research centers on rural Chinese society, and his works are regarded as classics in the social sciences. Three of his works are included here: Private Life under Socialism: Love, Intimacy, and Family Change in a Chinese Village, 1949–1999; The Flow of Gifts: Reciprocity and Social Networks in a Chinese Village; and a collection combining the two. These works show his sustained attention to everyday life in a Chinese village, examining themes such as love, family, intimacy, reciprocity, and social networks. Combining fieldwork with social-science analysis, he uses concrete interpersonal exchanges to illuminate rural social structures and their transformation. Grounded in empirical material and driven by clear research questions, his writing has exerted a notable influence in the relevant field.