The Philanthropy And Grass-roots Society Of Chaoshan Area In The Late Period Of The Republic Of China(1937-1949)

The Chaoshan area experienced endless war and severe frequent famine in the late period of the Republic of China,the local society was plunged into disorder predicament.Combined with the mixture of troubled social environment and homeland feelings of Chaoshan people,the Chaoshan area witnessed a rapid development in the philanthropy cause,featuring the Chaoshan area with its unique disaster not consistent with the turbulent environment.The Chaoshan area philanthropy cause consists of two aspects,followed by folk charitable relief activities and official livelihood assistance initiatives.Among them,folk charitable relief activities occupy a dominant position,while the official livelihood assistance initiatives play a little part in it.The main force of the folk charitable relief activities come from the oversea Chinese Chaoshan people and local Shantang,as well as some of other Chaoshan associations.Among them,oversea Chinese Chaoshan are the main economic support of Chaoshan's philanthropy cause.While the Shantang is the implementer of the first relief and rescue work.The official relief measures continued its previous livelihood policy,although not achieved significant results,it is still has made some achievements in the social relief work after the Anti-Japanese War.As for the Chaoshan's philanthropy cause in the late period of Republic of China,both folk charitable relief activities and official relief measures include the following aspects.Firstly,relieving famine and disaster,helping hunger and poverty.Secondly,establishing and developing charitable educational career and public health undertakings.Thirdly,sheltering and assisting the vulnerable groups such as those who are old weak,ill or disabled as well as lonely widows and widowers.Fourthly,some daily charity and public charity activities.During this period,government and people cooperation was a common feature of the Chaoshan philanthropy cause.Furthermore,during the overall war of resistance against Japan,the Chaoshan people from home and abroad sold all their family properties to relieve the distress of people,realizing the humanitarian benevolence and national sentiments became one,which was the result of a special era.In addition,Chaoshan's philanthropy cause is full of spirits religious color,socalled “God-Style” philanthropy,which is a question worthy of multifaceted discussion.The charitable relief cause during the later period of the Republic of China in the Chaoshan area has achieved remarkable success,millions of victims who suffered hunger and poverty could extended their life and live a comfortable twilight years.Most importantly,the charitable relief cause among the Chaoshan people from home and abroad plays a very important role in the repairing social anomie of the Chaoshan.However,just by virtue of the power of philanthropy,it is impossible to return to the normalization of the Chaoshan society,thus leaving a historical regret.