Primary Investigation On The Clans And The Grassroots’ Social Life In Sibeichai Village In 1930s

Clan exists as a non-group form in the Chinese traditional villages with significant influence. It even can cover the whole village. In the villages with relatively strong clan cohesion, the clan leader controls the politics and economics, which has significant influence in the rural life.Because of the geographical uniqueness, Sibeichai was one of the important villages in the investigations carried out by South Manchuria Railways Company. It was located in the suburbs of Luancheng County with convenient transportation as it was near to the Pinghan Railway. Cultivated land resources were abundant as the local plain terrain and sunlight were sufficient because of the monsoon climate of medium latitudes. Wells dug by the local peasants were numerous which benefited the local farming conditions. All these jointly explained high attention it received from all parties. The land erosion was serious in the village and the status of peasants was changed due to the growing poverty. There were multiple clans in the village, and the Hao’s was the most populous and largest. According to the sizes and branches, generally speaking Sibeichai belonged to the village with multiple clans and branches. Clans had little influences on the politics in grassroots within the village, which was mainly resulted from the poor local economy and harmonious clan relationship. To the contrary, the influences of clans on the social life in Sibeichai got greater. Fetes and cold food meetings were the sources of religious cohesion, which were able to strengthen villager’s religious sense of belonging and simultaneously to keep as well push forward the religious development. The influences of clans on the social life were mainly reflected on production and living. The poor economy and harmonious clan relationship urged villagers to seek help from each other during the cultivation, the partnership and labor exchanges appeared thereupon. When there were marriages, funerals or other gatherings, the role clans played was irreplaceable. In addition, in the cases of family separation, contradiction mediation and land transaction, clans also played a part.In the current political situation of 1930 s, the influence of the clan in the basic politics in Shibeichai Village was gradually weakened. However, it has continuous impact on the villagers’ social life. Thus, it can be seen that the clan plays an important role in the regional rural society in this period.