Studies On The Chinese Peasants' Day During The War Of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

Initially founded in Sichuan province,the Peasants' Day then was officially designated as a national holiday by the Nanjing National Government in December 1941.It was the Government that formulated specific measures for the observance of the Peasants' Day.There were many controversies on determining the date of the celebration of the Peasants' Day in the past.It was not decide on the date until the national government had made the final decision that the Peasant Festival finally falls on the Beginning of Spring,which means “The whole year's work depends on a good start in spring”.Afterwards,the national government adjusted some formulations according to the specific conditions of different provinces,showing a certain degree of flexibility.The establishment of the Peasants' Day not only gives a full play of the purpose of the national party in agriculture,but also takes account of the fact that the food crisis persists during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the government is to arouse the peasant class,upholding the ancient traditions of encouraging agriculture.To expand the influence of the festival,the National Government specially sent some people to strengthen works in rural areas,and conducted specific activities such as exhibitions,competitions,entertainment,tourism and arts and so on.The establishment of celebration greatly fired the enthusiasm of the peasant class.However,constrained by the objective environment at that time and the political influence of the national government and the lower social status,the peasants was unable to have a deep understanding about the festival,which accounts for the reason why the Peasants' Day fails to prevail.The government officials attached great importance to the festival in a way of personally holding meetings,in which peasants freely voiced their viewpoints on rural conditions to save the peasants and rural areas.With the end of the War,the Government tried to propaganda the legitimacy of itself and to resist the Communist Party.The agricultural workers were full of enthusiasm publish essays and comments on how to develop agriculture,problems of agricultural organizations,and the relationship between the Peasant's Day and other issues in order to explore the reasons and then try to find solutions.Apart from the Nanjing National Government,various attempts were made to determine the date of the Peasants' Day including the Christian organization,the peasant party,the Japanese Puppet regime and Germany and other forces.Although Yan'an Revolutionary Base was not involved in the events,it made remarkable efforts to settle the problems that peasants concerned.From the attitude of all parties towards the Peasants' Day and the good momentum of total food production during this time,we have learned the significance of the peasant class and the fact that the peasants' problems have long been the key issues that concerns the development of a country.