Agricultural Systems (Part 2)
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
In terms of content, the book's greatest value lies in its combination of historical depth and contemporary concern. The author not only traces the historical evolution of agricultural systems but also focuses on the trajectory of institutional change following the implementation of the household contract responsibility system, providing theoretical reference for hotly debated issues such as the ongoing reform of the rural land system and the cultivation of new types of agricultural operators. The book's dialectical reflection on the dual-layer management system of "unified management combined with decentralized operations" is particularly profound: it affirms the vitality of household operations while pointing out the limitations of decentralized operations, offering an institutional economics perspective for understanding China's path to agricultural modernization.
In terms of research method, the author adopts an institutional analysis framework, examining agricultural systems against the broader backdrop of modernizing the national governance system and avoiding the limitations of discussing agriculture in isolation. The book cites a large number of policy documents and local practice cases, giving the theoretical discussion a solid empirical foundation. Notably, the author has a clear understanding of path dependence in the evolution of agricultural systems and provides an objective analysis of the mechanisms of resistance to and drivers of institutional innovation.
Although the book was completed relatively early and some data are now outdated, its framework and methods for analyzing problems remain illuminating. For readers who wish to understand the internal logic of institutional change in Chinese agriculture and grasp the direction of rural reform, this book provides an important knowledge map and thinking tools. Readers should combine it with recent No. 1 Central Documents and newly issued policies such as the Rural Land Contracting Law for further reflection.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers and students in agricultural economics, rural development, and related fields
- Government staff involved in formulating and implementing policies on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers
- Social science enthusiasts interested in rural institutional change
- Agricultural enterprise managers and cooperative leaders
Not a good fit for
- Ordinary farmers seeking only practical agricultural technical guidance
- Casual readers looking for a light reading experience
Reading tips
- It is recommended to first read the previous volume or a related overview of agricultural system history to establish a basic conceptual framework
- While reading, compare with recent rural reform policies and consider the continuity of institutional evolution
- Focus on core chapters such as those on the land system and management system; other chapters can be read selectively
About the publisher
Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 《中国文化知识大观园》编 委 会
- 编写说明
- 二、农业史话（下）
- 神农氏
- “无字地书”
- 原始农业过渡
- 耒耜与青铜农具
- 沟洫
- 五谷六畜
- 铁器与牛耕
- 农业重心转移
FAQ
How does this book connect with the content of the first volume?
What reference value does the book's theory have for the current reform of the rural land system?
Can non-specialist readers understand the content of this book?
Related on WeRead
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Jie Baofeng, born in 1976 and a native of Qianguo, Jilin, is of Han ethnicity and serves as an assistant researcher. He is currently director of the Jilin Provincial Local Chronicles Museum, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial CPPCC, and vice chair of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and has long been engaged in compiling local chronicles. He has planned and published more than ninety chronicles and gazetteers, including the Illustrated Gazetteer of the Colonial Governing Institutions of the Puppet State of Manchukuo, and has served as chief editor of numerous history and popular science series, gaining extensive experience in document organization and knowledge dissemination. His works span a wide range of subjects, including folk literature, inspirational growth, and social fiction, with 970 titles held in the collection. These include multivolume editions of traditional classics such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Complete Works of Guiguzi, as well as accessible popular readings, reflecting an editorial approach that balances scholarship with readability.
Li Munan: publicly available information is limited, and details of his life, such as nationality and dates of birth and death, are not clearly recorded. Nevertheless, the 229 works held in the library indicate a prolific compiler with wide-ranging interests. His works focus mainly on Chinese culture and history, and representative titles include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume Two), The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Science and Military Volume, The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Politics and History Volume, The History of Ancient Chinese Literature, The History of Contemporary Chinese Literature, Poems of Successive Dynasties, and Residential Architecture and Folk Customs (Volume One). The common categories cover culture, popular science, general biography, and history readers, showing that his writing centers on knowledge popularization and cultural dissemination. His subjects span literary history, folk customs, military science, and political history, and are mostly aimed at general readers. Overall, Li Munan's body of work is extensive and emphasizes the systematic organization of traditional Chinese culture and historical knowledge, giving him a certain accumulated presence and influence in the compilation of popular cultural reading materials.
Xing Chunru is a Chinese full-time book editor about whom publicly available information is limited. He has long compiled popular series for institutions such as Liaohai Publishing House. His output is considerable, with more than 700 titles held in the collection, covering fields such as art history, science and military affairs, politics and history, language and writing, and film and television. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Part II), A History of Chinese Art, A History of Chinese Science and Technology, A Course in the Art of Language, Famous Paintings and Masterpieces, and the series A Grand Garden of Chinese Cultural Knowledge. These books present specialized knowledge in an accessible style, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, and are intended for young readers and general audiences, helping to popularize and guide understanding of traditional culture, art appreciation, and language expression.
Liu Xinlian is a Chinese compiler credited with a considerable number of titles, though public information about her is limited, and her nationality, dates of birth and death, and personal background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the 182 works held in the collection, her writing focuses mainly on cultural popularization and general knowledge books, covering such subjects as Chinese martial arts, political history, science and military affairs, emperors and eunuchs of successive dynasties, imperial examination top scholars, and myths and legends. The common categories include culture, popular science, history readings, folk literature, and general biography. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume II), The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Political and Historical Volume, The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Science and Military Volume, Emperors of Successive Dynasties, and Myths and Legends. Overall, her editorial style leans toward accessible introductions for general readers, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, making it suitable for ordinary readers seeking to understand traditional culture and historical knowledge.
