The Market And Society Through The Middle And Lower Of West River During Qing Dynasty

China,because of the vast field,its economic development had followed the phenomenon that brings barren land under cultivation from central area to border area in traditional period.And the local development had been led by agricultural cultivate which only made use of natural resources pre-Qing dynasty.However,extensive cultivation had result in the poor position and local rebellion at southern border area in 15-16 centuries.In fact,the Chinese economic regions,depend on creation of regional market,have found in Qing dynasty.As a main motive force in South of the Five Ridges area,it could help to control southern edge area except poltical and martial mode from 1644 to 1911.The development,management and final stability of the South of the Five ridges area should be focus on the changes of local society of West River in the Qing Dynasty.Based on the records,memorials,political documents,stone inscriptions,folk documents and foreign language investigation materials,the regional market is taken as the analysis perspective to determine the "edge area" of the region.From the perspective of state and local power,this paper also explores the interaction between the development of regional market and "local governance".The influence of the development of Guangdong and Guangdong markets could be considered as a force to promoved the magirial society to be interior provinces.This paper discusses the five themes of polder town development,social change,ethnic relationship,local development and national governance with spatial integration,rice transportation from Guangdong to Guangxi,and timber transportation and marketing as the main lines.The basic contents are as follows:(1)Attribute of West River and space integration,The marginal attributes of West River should be analysed through the history of Ming Dynasty’s economic strategy and management.Under the strict management system in the early Ming Dynasty,although the temporary stability of the local society could be guaranteed.once the laxation appeared on social management,various characteristics collide fiercely in the mid-Ming Dynasty.The historical facts of the local rebellion in the mid-Ming Dynasty explain the difference conceptes between the development and expansion.The establishment of the Governor’s Office of Guangdong and Guangdong was actually an attempt to promote the regional resources by politics.However,duing to the complex local situation,the process was bumpy and tortuous.In the late Ming Dynasty,when the local situation was generally stable,the spatial integration between the two places was smoothly promoted,which provided the possibility for the formation of the regional market in the Qing Dynasty.(2)Immigration and the formation in market system of Lingnan area,The wars in the Ming and Qing Dynasties not only caused huge losses to the local social economy,but also challenged the legitimacy of the Qing Dynasty.Based on the tortuous establishment process of Qing Dynasty rule in Lingnan area and the demand for stability of Lingnan area,the central government in the early Qing Dynasty adopted an encouraging attitude towards the multi-secular beliefs in Lingnan area.Businessmen,farmers and handicraftsmen were the main immigrants when the emergence of immigrants from 17-18 centuries,the popular God culture has become a medium for integrating immigrants and indigenous people.(3)The relationship between local government and market,From the four aspects of rice,salt,mineral resources and forest trees,it pointed out that the government actively participates in influencing the market in rice and grain trade,salt transportation and mineral development,so as to achieve a benign local governance effect.The development of commodity economy has indeed promoted local "internalization".But another market,the private salt market and private mining development,was out of official control.(4)The Rising Period of Regional Economy,Combining with the history which from 1789 to 1851 and related discussion of Skinnerian model,the examples such as prosperity of cities and towns in West River Basin in the mid-Qing Dynasty was considered as indeed a rising period of regional economy.Later development was characterized by regional development,which is a manifestation of China’s vast territorial space.(5)Economic involution at the area(1852-1911),The essence of the regional market in the late Qing Dynasty was still the traditional Chinese market,but it began to change slowly and did not breed modern industry because of the development of foreign trade.The development of Lingnan regional market in the late Qing Dynasty had another effect that under the influence of the Pearl River Delta,a unified linguistic society was formed in the market area,which broke through the traditional group recognition based on clan and ethnic group.At the same time,the change of regional cultural consciousness in the Pearl River Delta also spread westward,and formed a unique set of regional and national identity combined with the beliefs of secular gods.In a word,From five themes,this paper explores the trajectory of the formation,development and prosperity of the regional markets in Guangdong and Guangxi.Around the development and change of the markets,interact appeared through local society and state power.In the process of governing Lingnan society,the state relies on development and education to stabilize the "hinterland" in order to consolidate the national order.By the end of the Qing Dynasty,the Great Britain and France were also interested in the hinterland of the frontier,intending to further open up the interland of Lingnan area.Therefore,there were more profound considerations about the business port opening sites in the middle and lower reaches of the West River.Therefore,the development and stability of Lingnan society in the Qing Dynasty need to be added to the perspective of the development of Guangdong and Guangxi markets,and study the development of hinterland of inland river.