Tea Industry And Frontier Policy In Modern Sipu Region

During 18-19 century,Chinese foreign tea trade reached a peak due to the eager for tea in British.When tea from Zhejiang,Hunan,Hubei and Fujian were sold in a great amount in Europe and America,Yunnan’s Pu’er tea mainly sold to Tibet in Qing Dynasty.As the prominent tea districts,Yiwu(Iwu)and Yibang(Ibang)provided tea as tribute to the imperial court and paid mass of taxes to Yunnan government.With the birth of private firms,a new group of people joined tea economy which administered by Tusi(indigenous officers).This power eventually became an important part of the tea economy and the border construction in the Sipu region.At the end of Qing Dynasty,under the multiple impacts of local ethnic turmoil,local exploitation,and plague,the tea production and distribution center transferred from Simao to Fohai.In the early years of the Republic of China,Ke Shuxun carried out political reforms in Sipu.At the same time,Yunnan government has vigorously developed the tea industry and adopted various measures to support the tea economy in order to revitalize the industry,increase taxes,and improve well-being.The rise of Fohai tea industry brought foreign Han craftsmen and businessmen.They trained ethnic minority workers,and led to the establishment of some ethnic minority businesses.Beacause of the modernization of Fohai,firms are radically growing.Relationship among businessman,Tusi and peasantry has deepened.Merchant further promoted Fohai economy.Thanks to the disadvantage of growing opium in Sipu,tea production could survive.However,some ethnic people grew tea for money to exchange opium.In the 1940 s,the era of tea control began in Sipu.Yunnan Tea Corporation established Fuhai Tea Factory and Fuhai Public Service Corporation.These two institutions helped the development of tea economy and border construction.Fuhai Tea Factory made great efforts to the tea production and the communication among people on the border.It was really hard for Public Service Corporation to push frontier policy,due to the conflict between tea control and local rich businessman.During the Fourth Board Meeting of Fuhai Public Service Corporation,conflicts completely revealed by the documents written by Peng kelin and Fan hejun.After the Japanese War,the tea in Fohai maintained with great difficulties.After Japan invaded Southeast Asia,Tea Corporation’s business in Fohai stalled.The tea control in Fohai also stopped.Fohai tea industry in the era of the Republic of China tipped into recession from then on.During the late Qing Dynasty and the early time of Republic of China,the reform of the political system in the Sipu region transformed the forces among Tusi,businessmen and local government.Leaded by tea,these forces continued to be involved in the tea industry,and deeply affected the development of the tea industry and border area construction.At last,in the 1940 s,send by Yunnan Tea Corporation,tea workers from other provinces came into Sipu region who then became “new immigration”.Han immigration entered Sipu has their own features in different times,and they continuously influence Sipu tea industry and local society.