Modern Social Development In Southern Shaanxi

Southern Shaanxi is an early cradle of capitalism bud. However, as one of the threenatural regions of Shaanxi Province, it has experienced for years a relatively slow economicand social development as well as a comparatively underdeveloped modernization. For thefollowing reasons, this region is chosen to be an object for research on the development ofmodern Chinese society. Firstly, Southern Shaanxi can be studied as an organic wholepossessing both typicality of geographical location and universality of capitalism bud. Thischaracteristic makes this research significant. Secondly, relative independency and integratyactualize this region as an independent system to lauch research. Regarding Southern Shaanxias specific survey region, this paper adopts documentary research, field investigation,mathematical statistics method, comparative study, and employs theory of social developmentto carry out empirical stydies. It is aimed at further structuring an adaptive theoretical systemfor regional development researches, and also providing a reference for Southern Shaanxi'seconomic, cultural, and social development.The modern social development in Southern Shaanxi can be demonstrated in manyaspects. During the long period of agricultural production practice, a diversified cropstructure suitable both for northern and southern areas has been gradually formed. Inmodern time, with the diversification of land system and the continuous progress of farmingtechnology, new economic factors are increasing in traditional natural economy. As a result,an "endogeneity oriented" development pattern becomes dominant in agriculture economicdevelopment. As to the development of transportation as well as industry and commerce,great progress has also be made in this region. From the prosperity of shipping industry ofHan and Dan Rivers to the outset of road-building in modern times; from the flourish ofcommercial chambers to the formation of network trade; from the heyday of handicraftindustry to the beginning of modern industry, all of these illustrate the linkage developmentof modern transportation industry and commerce in Southern Shaanxi. In particular, theprosperity of shipping industry has produced great stimulating effect on the formation ofmarket network and the flourish of commercial trade. Also, the local forest peoductprocessing industry has been continuously growing. As a result, the combination of"endogeneity oriented" and "external impactive" development pattern is performing in many regions' economic development. When it comes to education, modern education in SouthernShaanxi is oringnated from the education reform of the New Deal in the late Qing Dynasty.Along with the installment of educational institutions, a new educational system has beenestablished here to promote the development of education career in Southern Shaanxi.Besides, the internal displacement of schools during the Anti-Japanese War has promoted andperfected local education from both levels, and structural perspectives. That has broughtSouthern Shaanxi a short-term rapid grouth and prosperity of modern education, andproduced profound influence on local culture and economy. Gradually, endogenous typeddevelopment and input typed prosperity prove to be the main chariateristics of moderneducation and culture development in Southern Shaanxi.The social structure of Southern Shaanxi presents the trend of longitudinaldifferentiation and characteristics of embedded disturbance. With the differentiation of thetraditional social class as well as the gradual rising of a new social strata, especially theongoing immigration from the late Qing Dynasty, it provides the necessary labor force for thesocial development of Southern Shaanxi, which at the same time impacts both the currentsocial structure, and, to some extent, accelerates the process of social differentiation andreconstruction. In social customs, southern Shaanxi possessed the main characteristics ofdiversification, harmony and compatibility since ancient times, which not only influenced byspecial geographical environment and cultural traditions of Southern Shaanxi, but also byimmigrant cultures and profound traditional ethics.In modern times, driven by factors of common roles, such as the guidance ofgovernment policy, the promotion of enlightenment movement, as well as the impact ofwestern culture and business development, and particularly during Anti-Japanese War, theintroduction of higher institution with advanced ideology and culture in the occupied areasand war zones, a great change has been made in the social climate in Southern Shaanxi.There were both internal causes and external influence on the social development inModern Southern Shaanxi. Due to the combined action of unique geographic environmentand traditional culture, the collapse of natural economy and the development of commodityeconomy in Southern Shaanxi possessed its own unique regional characteristics, that is, to alarge extent, the social development in Modern Southern Shaanxi is due to its requirements ofendogenous development. As the influence of Western Capitalism on China in the latenineteenth century is increasingly aggravating, the social development in Southern Shaanxigradually witnessed the changes and left a deep imprint in subsequent development. However,the social influence of Western Capitalism in Southern Shaanxi is not so obvious comparedwith coastal areas. It shows insufficient capacity of two kinds of driving force of "indogenous" and "external shocks-type" in the process of modernization in southern Shaanxi.The long-term slow development of Capitalism Sprout in Southern Shaanxi didn't fully thriveand produce qualitative leap as well as formulate lasting impetus for economic and socialdevelopment in this area, which leads to the loss of dominant position of Southern Shaanxi innational economy and makes it gradually become the "forgotten corner"...