A Special Study About The Farmer Groups Of The Zhou Dynasty

This article has carried on an omni-directional discussion of different categories in view of the main agricultural production's community in Zhou Dynasty. By elaborating the farmer's political status, financial circumstance and social life, the life style of this group has been sketched in detail.In political status, First, it discussed their political rights and obligations must being fulfilled, comparing some changes in different periods; Second, it discussed their function and influence in the country's political lives, finding out the underlying causes and rules of the changes; Third, it analyzed the prevalent trend of concerning about the farmer's life, carefully Investigating the reason why farmer's rights ,interests and the status changed from the social concept aspect.In financial circumstance, First, it analyzed the similarities and differences between the well field system and the land allocation system, as well as the taxes and levies under the different farming system, sorting out the reasons, processes and characteristics of the changes of farming system and collection of tax and corvee. Second, it elaborated the agricultural production activity and the household sideline operating condition, detailing the way of agricultural production, technology, tools and crop varieties ,making an different-level investigations of household sideline, such as planting, gathering, fishing and hunting, raising livestock, sericulture and so on. Third, it made an analysis to the ancient document《Mencius》, through its ideal design out of touch with reality to gain insights into the historical background.In social life, First, it detailed the form, manner and the corresponding customs of the farmers'marriage and funeral; Second, it discussed some folk sacrificial offering activities, just as sacrifices to the god of the land, the gods ensuring harvests, ancestors and sacrifices for expelling evil spirits to avoid disasters. Third, In order to reflect the spiritual lives of the farmers, it elaborated the folk daily entertainment, such as assembly and association, singing and dancing, physical training, as well as folk games and so on.Through the integrated use of literature documents, archaeological materials and ethnology knowledge, taking physical production and spiritual life as two basic levels, after detailed analysis and induction, the article elaborated completely the basic content of the farmers'production and life.