The Boat People Of Guangdong In Ming And Qing Dynasties

In Ming and Qing Dynasties, China's southeastern coastal oceanic society and economy developed significantly which brought on a huge socio-economic impact between east and west. The people who had been living on the sea since ancient time, which called Boat People in Guangdong, were affected mostly during this historical change. So based on the existed study I try to explore the change of Tnaka's life and manufacture in the context of oceanic economy in Ming and Qing Dynasties.The first chapter discusses the origin and distribution of Tnaka and their political, economic status. There has never reached a conclusion about the origin till today, and I tend to accept the idea of Vietnamese descent, without excluding other groups of foreign infiltration after all. Tnaka's Political status was very low, though the ruling clique attempted to improve their situation. In real life they were still in the discrimination and oppression. Economically, the enforcement of the maritime restrictions of Ming and Qing made them reducing production space. Some Tnaka were forced landing ashore in order to survive. The majority were still living in the water, while they gave up the original single fishing method and tended to diversified development.The second chapter is about the management of boat people by the government. On one hand, the government had set up River Park to collect fishery tax; on the other hand the youth Tnaka who had lived perennial life on the sea and had very experience to water were arranged a water army. The measurement could strengthen the military and enhance coastal defense force. Then the Tnaka could be governed effective lest they became banditry. Added to these a rigorous way -a system of Neighbor hood was set up.The third chapter discusses the pirates and the Boat People. The Tnaka were subjected to oppression and discrimination at the bottom of society. They were in a heavy burden of taxes and their lives were extremely difficult. The more the oppression, the more the resistance. They fled from homeland, wandered on the sea, at last reduced to piracy, which brought on a range of social problems.The fourth chapter introduces Tnaka's folks, including the belief of Water God and the way of entertainment ---salt water songs. All of these can not only brought them relaxation, but also afford us an unique angle of culture to understand their mental life and spiritual world.