| Society of Han Dynasties is based on agricultural civilization; agriculturalpopulation constitutes the main body of society, and farmers' lifestyle displaysdistinct characteristics of the times. This thesis focuses on farmers' living conditions,such as inhabitance, production activities, interpersonal communication, and politicaland spiritual cultures, etc, with a view to make a dynamic and three-dimensionalpicture of farmers' life at that time.With different natural conditions like terrain and climate, the rural settlementforms and architectural structures of Han Dynasties diversify accordingly. Bothhumanly planned settlements and naturally distributed ones are common to see.However, generally speaking, considering factors such as repair cost and conveniencefor farming and living, naturally distributed settlements prevail more widely. There isno necessary logic relationship existing between “emerging settlements” and “naturalsettlements” of rural society in Han Dynasties, and their external forms are not equalto “scattered village”. Internal layout of the settlement is resulted from farmers'natural choice according to local conditions, so their forms can not be identical anduniform. As for most farmers' residences, it is usual that every residence has anindependent courtyard, which comprises “one hall and two bedrooms”.Theinhabitance of farmers in Han Dynasties is an organic integration of social andgeographical space, whose internal structure is constantly changing. As farmers'surname system is popularized and family clan develops, consanguinity relationshipinside the settlement is strengthening and it becomes the main trend that farmers withseveral different surnames live together. In view of the development of farmer familystructure, it is more common for core families and stem families coexisting in asettlement.Production activities form the basis of farmers' life. As social productivitydevelops, farming techniques advance, and farming tools improve, productionactivities of farmers in Han Dynasties feature a pattern with crop farming as its staplebusiness while forestry, animal husbandry, sideline business and fishery coexisting assupportive businesses. With a vast territory, natural conditions and economic development in Han Dynasties differ among different regions, and therefore, theproportion and status of agricultural sectors in social economical structure also vary.Agricultural production in Han Dynasties is characteristic of small-scaledfarming economy. In such an economy, agricultural production usually takes theindividual household as the primary unit; the production style with husband farmingand wife weaving becomes the natural pattern of household division of labor;agricultural production is arranged according to optimal planting time of differentcrops, which makes agricultural production more scientific and reasonable, and exertsfar-reaching influence on agricultural production and farming techniques of latertime.The farmers' interpersonal communication in Han Dynasties inherits traditionalethics and morals of pre-Qin period, while it is also influenced by the ruling thoughtand new Confucian ethics of that time. The connection and interaction inside familiesand clans with consanguinity as the bond are fundamental in interpersonal interaction.Under influence of the three cardinal guides and five constant virtues ofConfucianism, connection and interaction between father and son, brothers, husbandand wife, tend to change from the relatively equal relationship, based on naturalemotions before the middle of Western Han Dynasty, to the unequal one of superiorsand subordinates. As farmers' consciousness of the clan and consanguinitystrengthens, mutual help among clan members becomes more frequent and common,and their connection and communication tightens through sacrificial activities insidethe clan. Influenced by relatively isolated living environment and strong attachmentto the native land, relationship-in-law formed by short-distance marriage, and therelationship among neighbors, friends and teachers and students also play animportant role in farmers' interpersonal interaction of Han Dynasties, which makes upthe acquaintance society of farmers' interpersonal relationship, together with the clanrelationship. Moreover, by attending open and public sacrificial festivals and market,etc, farmers constantly expand their interpersonal communication and satisfy theirsocializing needs at different levels.As politics and social structure evolves in the real world, the politicalenvironments to which farmers of Han Dynasties are exposed are in constant change: on the one hand, bearers of social powers in rural society tend to be of rich and grandclans. The government-led election of officials in rural society before the middle ofWestern Han Dynasty changes gradually into a system where large family clans in therural society hold and exercise powers; on the other hand, the national system,characterized by Shiwu system (a household registration system in which fivehouseholds are grouped as “wu” and ten households are grouped as “shi”.), alsochanges in its operation mechanism and effects, and functions of collectivepunishment are relatively weakened. In order to maintain feudal ruling order,emperors of Han Dynasties give farmers some preferential treatment in politics,economy and social status. Selecting officials according to Confucianism make itpossible for farmers to have rights to join government affairs. Farmers also need someaccess to education because government hopes to indoctrinate them. They can also bebestowed with titles of nobility and some legal status. However,wealth-and-power-worshipping after the middle of Western Han Dynasty renders thetheory above contradictory with the reality. This is inevitable under feudal imperialpower system. Influenced by political values of “loyalty equaling filial piety”,farmers' respect for their fathers' authority extends to their worship for andattachment to imperial powers. Titles and organizational forms of all kinds of ruralorganizations and activities express farmers' acknowledgement of Xiang-Li systemcharacteristic of imperial power and will. They show their political inclination andnational identity through constructing ancestral halls, worshiping, and singing folksongs and proverbs. With its own limitations, farmers' political ideas are grown fromlong-term influence of ruling philosophy representing imperial power and will.Farmers of Han Dynasties have rich spiritual life and diversified entertainments.Confined by the social environment and scientific development, belief of ghosts andgods becomes spiritual ballast of farmers in Han Dynasties. Therefore, there arevarious sacrificial rituals and taboo customs, which are practical and utilitarian andbecome part of their life. For the purpose of being blessed by gods and getting awayfrom sickness and disasters, farmers in Han Dynasties give priority to worshiping andgiving sacrifice to the god of land who is closely related with agricultural productionand the god of kitchen who is closely related with family life. In order to express respect and gratitude to their ancestors and ask for blessings for their offspring,farmers of Han Dynasties mainly sweep tombs of their ancestors, which graduallybecome regularized in time and ritual. To avoid harms from ghosts and goblins,farmers exorcise ghosts and goblins by holding entertainment activities. Harboringthe illusion of being immortal like gods, farmers of Han Dynasties also have strongdesire to be immortal and live forever. They pursue eagerly health-building ways, andconstruct their nether world. Taboos concerning times and dates, food, clothing,housing and transport, wedding and funeral and agricultural production are institutedto draw on advantages and avoid disadvantages. Entertainments like songs, dancesand acrobatics with farmers' characteristics show the optimistic and proactive side oftheir spiritual life. Because they can only put in limited time on fewer entertainments,it is difficult for farmers to regularly participate in and enjoy the entertainments. Waysand content of farmers' entertainment also differs in different regions and withdifferent customs.The “living world” of farmers in Han Dynasties gives an authentic and specificrefection of the social development and changes of that time. Because of thecomplexity, diversity and succession of life, different farmers' lifestyles give the bestinterpretation of farmers' deep attachment to their native land, which is brought aboutby agricultural culture. By conducting researches on the small world of farmers inHan Dynasties, we can deeply feel the rural practices and customs, contemplate thecurrent farmers and their life, and gain a deeper understanding of relationshipbetween different aspects of people's life and the profound connotation of Chinesetraditional agricultural culture. |
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