Transition Of Modern Rural Handicraft In Sichuan And Its Historical Function (1891-1937)

The article studies the modern structural transition of the rural handicraft in the area and its historical action for social economic in modern Sichuan Province (1891-1937), under the guide of the theory of Marxism Handicraft Industry History and Capitalist World Market, and by means of Development Economics and Regional Economics. It is believed that many factors including special ecological environment, initial growth of the commodity economy, the foreign market establishment, the avocation of the local authority and elite created favorable conditions from the market, capital and technology and so on.The paper thinks that the modern transformation of the rural handicrafts in Sichuan mainly embodied multi-changes in the profession development, multiplication in the management way, multi-polarization in the sales market and the expansion to function of merchants. Although development of the Sichuan handicraft industry had some advantages in the environment, the market, the capital etc, each professional development is unbalanced, because on one hand the overseas market has offered the new opportunity for development of the handicraft industry, but on the other hand, with domestic market being compelled to open, Sichuan has become the field where foreign commodity dumped. Facing with the modern industrial products pouring, different trade has different destiny, in addition, every trade differed in tool of production and technology, and finally it displayed the multi-changes: some trades declined gradually, some blossomed, some develop continuously, and other new and developing trades emerge rapidly;on the organizational form aspect, the self-sufficient family handicraft industry, family handicraft industry by exchanging primarily, family handicraft industry under the control of trade capital and the workshop handicraft co-existed, which has formed the situations of four kinds of types of operation coexisting;with the expansion of markets, the circulation of the handicraft articles no longer limits in the regional market, but extends to the international market, thus formed the phenomenon of the multi-polarity of selling market. In order to satisfy the increasing import-export trade development, some great merchants emerged;who engaged in import-export trades in thecentre of Chongqing and acted as bank comprador in a way. They on one hand, deal in cashing business and possessed abundant floating capital;on the other hand, invested in import-export trades in Sichuan, so created conditions for the development of handicraft industry in Sichuan. At the same time, some center small-sale merchants also played the vital role during transformation of handicraft industry in Sichuan.The changes of the modern rural handicraft industry of Sichuan not only caused the changes of the structure within the traditional handicraft industry, but also have brought certain influence to urban and rural economies of modern Sichuan. Firstly, the development of the modern rural handicraft industry has not merely promoted the development of rural commodity economy and changes of economic structure have also increased peasants' income. Secondly, it has promoted the development of market town in the countryside, with the development of commodity economy, the development of the rural fair of Sichuan is very noticeable, not merely developed surprisingly on the quantity, and appeared fairs of much specialization in the country. The development of the market town can be divided into three kinds according to the relation with handicraft industry: specialty market town of the handicraft industry, new handicraft industry market town, commercial market town;the development of these market towns can not be separated from development of the handicraft industry. Finally, the development promoted the development of the city;the development of export trade of the handicraft articles offered the opportunity for the city. The influence of the handicraft industry to city is not limited this, these industries such as the salt industry of Zigong, cane sugar industry of Neijiang, papermaking industry of Jiajiang, weaves silk industry of Nanchong, Leshang, Santai, tung oil industry of Wanxian, burlap industry of Nongchang, Rongchang undertake important mission for bringing about an advance in city.In summary, the transition of the modern rural handicraft industry of Sichuan has touched local social economic structure and operation way to a certain extent, and has accumulated the new growth factor for the economy modernization in Sichuan.