A Study On The Introduction And Development Of Peanut In China(1631-1949)

Peanuts have become important economic and oil crops since it was introduced into China during the reign of emperor chongzhen(崇祯).It was an example of the commercialization of agricultural products in modern China.In order to investigate the introduction and development of peanuts at China in Ming and Qing Dynasties.This paper introduction and promotion technology,utilization,trade and consumption of peanuts as the analytical framework through the methodology of the history of material culture.On thisbasis,expounding the each step related of political,economic,social and cultural,revealing the life history of peanuts is a historical comprehensive product of various social relations.At the same time,this paper points out that studying the article in China’s daily life can reflect the historical dynamics hidden behind it.The main content of the research is divided into the following five parts.The first part discusses the origin of peanuts and the process of introduction and promotion in China.After Columbus discovered the Americas,peanuts were introduced to China from Southeast Asia through Southeast Asia.The time was in the Chongzhen emperor,not of the emperor of Hongzhi(弘治)or Wanli(万历)that the academic circles usually understanding.This historical phenomenon are hidden academic issues such as early globalization,imperial commerce,technology and crowd movement.From China’s own point of view,it was already conditions for introducing peanuts.The route of peanuts in China is roughly from coastal to inland,and from south to north.The development process of peanut in the Ming and Qing Dynasties can be divided into three periods,slow promotion period,gradual expansion period,and rapid development period.In the late Qing Dynasty,the American virginia peanut introduced by missionaries changed the pattern of peanut production in China,which the North replaced the South as the main production area.The provinces of Hopeh,Shantung and Honan have become specialized production areas of peanuts.The second part discusses the production technology of peanuts during 1631-1949.After the introduction of peanuts,farmers began to understand the peanut production technology from the variety and breeding techniques,cultivation and harvesting techniques,and pest control techniques.The changes in peanut varieties and breeding techniques are reflected in the mastery of variety traits and the advancement of breeding techniques.The development of peanut cultivation and harvesting techniques can be reflected in the land preparation,rotation system,field management and harvest storage.The development of peanut pest control technology mainly involves the upgrading of peanut disease and pest control technology.These cognitions are the result of the interaction and interaction of traditional experience in agronomy,Western experimental agronomy,and official interest considerations.The third part analyzes the processing and utilization of peanuts during 1631-1949.During 1631-1949,people have used peanuts to evolve from a single to a diversified,from food therapy,feed,fertilizer,and fuel to industrial refined products.The most important processing technique for peanuts is to be used as oil extraction.Whether it is soil oil extraction or machine oil extraction,there are a variety of oil extraction tools,and the process is complicated.This feature has largely determined the production organization and business model of peanut oil mill.The fourth part examines the market trade of peanuts during 1631-1949.With the expansion of international market demand,the establishment of trading ports,the improvement of transportation conditions,the rise of new industries,and the demand for farmers’ money,these factors have enabled peanuts to realize value transformation and commercialization under the economic logic of China’s modern smallholder market.As the degree of commercialization of peanut production has increased,its circulation as a commodity has undergone major changes,especially in the market structure and circulation.In terms of market structure,the peanut market has formed a three-tier market system of the origin market,the mainland distribution market,and the port terminal market.This hinterland to port trade model is the epitome of China modern foreign trade.In the circulation,a purchase and sales network with farmers,middlemen and exporters as the central axis has been formed.In the intricate historical context,the domestic market for peanut market trade is dominated by Kwangtung and Fukien.The international market has changed according to the political and economic situation.In the 1910s-1920s,the peanut export market was dominated by Europe and Japan,and in the 1930s,it turned to the United States.The world economic crisis during 1929-1933that had a great impact on China’s peanut trade,which caused the price of peanuts to plummet and the external market share to shrink.This also reduced the income of the group that relied on peanut trade for survival,especially the farmers at the bottom of the industrial chain.Farmers planted peanuts for pursuing their interests.The fluctuation of peanut prices has affected the changes of rural society to a certain extent.The fifth part examines the integration of peanuts and daily life during 1631-1949,especially the trajectory of peanuts entering daily life.During 1631-1949,the daily nature of peanuts has been reflected in the application of the consumer field,which has affected the general public.Peanuts become the medicines and daily foods of traditional society.It is endowed with folk customs such as multiple sons and more blessings.literati often use it in novels,prose,poetry,children’s paintings to expression Thought,feels and grievances.It can be said that the consumption of peanuts is always carried out under certain social relations.In summary,the introduction and development process of peanuts in China is consistent with the political,economic,social and cultural since the late Ming Dynasty.Through the perspective of the social life history of things,the trajectory of peanuts in China for more than three hundred years can reveal the evolution and special historical significance of peanuts in our daily life.