On The Modern Transformation Of Handicraft Industry In Southern Anhui(1877—1937)

The long history,abundant natural resources,developed commodity economy and traditional handicraft industry laid the historic foundation for the modern transformation of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui.Driving factors which put forward the modern transition from traditional basis include two aspects.One is prominent conflicts between human and land,the other is local government’s support.Handicraft industry of Southern Anhui started its transition from tradition to the modern style during late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.The research uses history and philology study methods,the methodology of comparison,the case method and multi-disciplinary crossing research methods.The paper analyzes historical foundations and driving factors of the modern transformation at first,then on its technology transition,the modernization of organizational forms,structural changes,the characteristics of transformation,limited breakthrough,and further on its barriers in transition.These studies endeavor to restore the historical prospect of the modern transformation and provide history references for sustainable economic development in Southern Anhui.The technology transition of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui mainly contained technology scientificalization and science technicalization.Technology scientificalization embodied not only the fast growing amount of the texts of handicraft industry but also the increase of science and technology content in texts,especially in tea-processing industry,textile industry,and the four treasures of the study.With promoting the experience in the technology to the theory,inductions and operations had changed.The subjects of the new type of vocational and technical education were constantly in the process of refinement and specialization,training one group of excellent technical personnel.The reformation of production equipment was most noticeable in homespun cloth of Anqing and the rice milling industry of Wuhu.Improved implements,introduced power machine and transformation to machine production separated handicraft industry in Southern Anhui from tradition in productivity.The modernization of organizational forms mainly contained manufacturing organization forms and industry associations.Cottage industry,the handcraft workshop and the cooperative are most noticeable in manufacturing organization forms.Cottage industry existed widely in rural areas and its commercialization level had continued to rise.The handcraft workshops appeared in a rash and promoted the professional development of handicraft industry.Tea cooperative in Qimen was typical in the cooperative.But,banks and foreign traders eventually benefited in the process of actual business.Keemun Black Tea was not able to revitalize.Traditional guilds were displaced by trade associations and trade unions.They settled down the labor disputes and promoted production stability.But,they were in the close supervision of the government.It was difficult to get rid of deep-rooted habits of traditional guilds.With the impacts of foreign goods and domestic products made by machines,the environment which handicraft industry survived had changed.Thus the structural changes of trade was growing in intensity.Firstly,traditional industries such as spinning,processing of dyestuff and silk industry were on the wane.Secondly,the impacts had the characteristics of complexity.Weaving industry,oil press industry and paper-making industry kept some market share.Manufacturing industry of iron,copper and tin,bamboo and wood processing industry,brick and tile industry,stone industry,ceramic industry were intact.Hui-ink industry,Xuan-paper industry,Shu-mat industry tried to survive along with the change of the time.Thirdly,it also offered opportunities for handicraft industry.The export-oriented handicraft industry whose representative is Keemun Black Tea was mainly affected by the international market.The emerging industries such as knitting industry,printing industry,soap candle industry,match industry and cosmetic industry were reformed into handicraft indusrty.Except few traditional industries,handicraft industry in Southern Anhui was progressing,and some new factors of modern times had emerged.The modern transformation of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui reflected the characteristics of developmental delay and uneven development.In the first place,the modern transformation of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui obviously lagged behind Southern Jiangsu,especially in terms of technology scientificalization,the way of technology inheritance and technical operation.Many factors contributed to the discrepancy,which involved position and traffic,the push of social forces and the support of basic power industry.In the second place,the modern transformation of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui was unbalanced.Such imbalances did not only reflect in regions and industries,but also reflect in the subjectification of producers and the marginalization of technology,the advantage of exports and the deficiency of domestic sales.The modern transformation of handicraft industry in Southern Anhui had made some breakthroughs,mainly reflected in the expanded functions of handicraft industry.That was strong backward linkage to agriculture and meeting diversified consumption.Nevertheless,there were a series of obstacles in the process of modern transformation,including man-made and natural disasters,various exploitations,idea restrictions and the undeveloped education.The breakthroughs of the modern transformation were very limited owing to the adverse effects of numerous obstacles.