Exploring the Social System of the Yi Nationality in Liangshan: A Historical Mystery in the Academic Contest
In the early days of liberation, the social system of the Yi people in Liangshan became the core of the debate in the academic circles, and scholars from all walks of life held their own opinions in order to understand the truth of history, forming four schools of thought, each of which expounded its unique interpretation of the social nature of Liangshan.
Academic Disputes: Four Schools of Thought Interpret Liangshan Society
The Theory of Slavery: Advocated by Hu Qingjun, Guo Moruo, Jian Bozan, and Xia Kangnong. They believed that slavery existed in Liangshan, and divided Yi society into two classes: slave owners and slaves.
Feudalism: Represented by scholars such as Jiang Yingliang, Shu Shi, Zhang Yingda, and Zhao Weibang, it is believed that Liangshan society has a feudal system, and Tusi occupies a dominant position in the social structure.
Coexistence Theory: Proposed by Zhang Xiangqian, Lin Yaohua, Fan Wenlan and others, it is proposed that there are two social systems in Liangshan, namely slavery and feudalism. Ma Changshou further put forward the theory of centrality and marginality, dividing the hinterland into slavery and feudalism at the periphery.
Transition Theory: Represented by Lin Lifu, Shi Xiulin, and Chen Jiyuan, he argues that Liangshan society is in the stage of transition from a slave society to a feudal society, revealing the context of social change.
The 1956 Investigation: A Key Move to Refute Feudalism
In order to resolve academic disputes, in October 1956, the Sichuan Ethnic Society History Investigation Team went to Liangshan to conduct an investigation. Through extensive investigation of the four points of the hinterland area, the periphery area and the Tusi ruling area, the three phases of the investigation were gradually confirmed, and finally concluded that the Liangshan society was slavery. This conclusion effectively refuted the theory of feudalism reported to the central authorities by Zhang Yingda and other scholars, and became the definitive conclusion of history.
Clan slavery: a unique social formation in Liangshan
The slavery system in Liangshan is classified as "clan slavery", a unique form that cannot be easily applied to other slavery models, such as the Greco-Roman slavery, the ancient Oriental slavery, and the modern American South. This system has its own unique characteristics and needs to be interpreted from multiple dimensions.
Survey of Social Structure: The Intricacies of Class Divisions
In Yi society, class division is far from a simple pyramid form. Dominant slave owners make up about 7-13 per cent of the population, with a relatively high proportion of wealthy laborers and settled slaves, and 12-26 per cent of slaves who are fully possessed. The class structure took on the shape of a pear, thin at the end and thick in the middle, which was very different from other slave systems.
Analysis of Exploitation Patterns: The Complex Relationship from Serf to Slave
Background Explanation: The intricate connection between politics and the military and the Black Yi slave owners
Since the government of the Republic of China could not interfere, the Black Yi slave owners dominated the government functions and held the main economic and military power. Black Yi slave owners formed alliances with each other through family branches and marriages, which strengthened their position in society. It is worth noting that for the White Yi slave owners, they needed to pay tribute to the Black Yi slave owners to show their military dependence.
Social evolution: a profound transition from a slave society to a feudal society
The existence of the Liangshan Yi social system profoundly influenced the political, military, and economic evolution. The transition period from a slave society to a feudal society was a key node in social change, leaving a far-reaching historical imprint.
Conclusion and Interaction: How Does Social Structure Affect Historical Development?
Share your views on the social system of the Yi people in Liangshan in the comment area. Each system has its own uniqueness, and the "clan slavery" in Liangshan is a strange chapter in history. Exploring how social structure affects historical development, let's unravel the historical mystery of Liangshan. ️️ #凉山彝族 #社会制度 #历史争论 #氏族奴隶制
The spatiotemporal background of social change: Liangshan during the Republic of China
During the early liberation of the Republic of China, the Liangshan Yi society was beyond the reach of the whip, so the Black Yi slave owners achieved political and economic dominance. The social structure of this period formed a complex network of interpersonal relationships, with marriages and family alliances between various ethnic groups forming unbreakable local power.
️ Slave Owners and Wealthy Laborers: Intricate Human Relationships
Although there was no direct personal affiliation between slave owners and wealthy laborers, land rents created an indirect economic link between the two. The survey did not reveal the arbitrary disposition of the lives and property of the wealthy laborers by the slave owners, and this relationship was more manifested in the lease of farmland and the exchange of interests of part of the labor force.
The slave owner's absolute dominance over the settled slaves
Anjia slaves were a relatively large class in Yi society, and their land was mainly rented. In the surveyed village A, the exploitation of land rent by slave owners for the settled slaves was manifested in two situations: lending seeds and not lending seeds. In the case of lending seeds, land rent accounts for half of the annual output, and in the case of non-lending it is one-third.
In the investigation in Village B, the slave owners also used this method of exploitation of the settled slaves. Moreover, for the very small number of slaves who owned small plots of land, slave owners practiced more strict exploitation of labor rent. This nuanced relationship of exploitation gave the slave owners a firm grip on the economic and military initiative.
The dilemma of land, means of production and social status
In this social structure, some slaves owned even a very small amount of land and means of production, and their lives and property remained entirely vested in the slave owners. Even if a very small number of slaves were able to own some of their own "private houses", these resources remained under the absolute control of the slave owners.
In the survey in Village B, two-thirds of the slaves' labor time was spent providing unpaid labor for the slave owners, while only one-third of the time was spent running their own small plots of land. The slave owners could also deprive the slave owners of the fruits of this small plot of land at will, further highlighting the power of the slave owners over the slaves.
The bottom of society in a slave society: the helplessness of the poor laborers
In this social structure, the working poor are largely dependent on their own labor, owning land of a general size, not owning slaves and not being exploited. However, in this intricate web, the distinction between poor and rich workers is also beginning to emerge. In a way, they may be a relatively free group in this society, but there is a degree of political and military dependency.
From a slave society to a feudal society: an opportunity for social change
This intricate social structure not only affects the living conditions of individuals, but also has a profound impact on the development of society as a whole. The transition from a slave society to a feudal society was a crucial stage in the social transformation of this period. The uniqueness and complexity of the Yi society in Liangshan make it an important proposition in historical research.
The Mystery of History: Liangshan Society under Clan Slavery
The changes of slave society and feudal society are not linear, but show an intricate development trajectory under the unique clan slavery. The uniqueness of Yi society is completely different from other social forms, which also provides an opportunity for historians to raise new questions and research directions.
Looking to the Future: Where Is the Truth of History?
The decryption of the social system of the Yi people in Liangshan is not only an academic debate, but also a search for historical truth. With the deepening of academic research, we may be able to unveil more historical veils and unlock more wonders of Liangshan Yi society.
Interaction with readers: What is the history of Liangshan in your eyes?
In the comment area, leave your views and questions about the Yi society in Liangshan. Each message is a unique interpretation of history and a step in the common search for the truth. Together, we uncover the pages of history and discover the wonders and secrets within. ️♂️
Follow and forward, so that more people can understand the history of the Yi people in Liangshan and explore the mystery of clan slavery. #凉山历史解密 #氏族奴隶制 #历史研究 #社会结构
This long historical post hopes to arouse readers' attention and thinking about this unique history through an in-depth interpretation of the complex structure of Liangshan Yi society. Through the window of history, we can better understand the hardships of individual survival under different social structures, and we can better grasp the key moments in historical changes.