Abstract
This chapter demonstrates the roles of state and impacts of traditional Chinese philosophy thoughts of the rural welfare system. The philosophy behind traditional welfare is implemented by family, community and state which gives a historical background underpinning China’s current rural system. The collective culture and state responsibility have deep roots in China. The ideal of harmony between heaven and humanity supports the ideologies that state’s responsibilities for people’s lives. Changpingcang (Ever-Normal Granaries) as a state institution for poverty relief appeared in Han Dynasty (54 B.C.). Collectivist thoughts and organized community also have long existed in the countryside. Chinese gentry played a significant role in spreading welfare ideas in countryside. Instead of individualism. All of these created an institution of rural welfare that is the foundation of the modern Chinese welfare system.
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Notes
- 1.
A unit of area = 0.667 ha.
- 2.
The official tax was two dans of grain.
- 3.
The unit of grain, one dan is 10 dou.
- 4.
A historical book: the History of the Sui Dynasty.
- 5.
Initial in Hu Bu, 1791, 30/1a.
- 6.
A historical book about the Han Dynasty.
- 7.
See Yanzi Chunqiu, Volume 7.
- 8.
A relevant Confucian collection works before Qin and Han Dynasties on various kinds of etiquette system.
- 9.
A work recorded Mencius’s thoughts and actions.
- 10.
A historical book about Han Dynasty.
- 11.
See Huangzheng jiyao, A book about calamity policy summary written by Wang, Zhiyi in Qing Dynasty.
- 12.
The earliest historical book of China was composed in the period of Warring Sates, recording the history from primitive society to the middle of the Spring and Autumn; a history of about 1500 years.
- 13.
Chapter Li Yun.
- 14.
It was an ideal that did not distinguish between men and women. But in fact, it had a clear division of labour between men and women. Nanyoufen, Nüyougui meant that men had stable jobs and women had happy marriages. Men ploughed the land while women wove.
- 15.
The earliest election in China existed in the primitive society. The chiefs of tribes were voted for by the all members, which was a source of the Han Dynasty electoral system. Lianghan Chaju system (the Eastern and Western Han Dynasties electoral system) included election, recommendation and examination. The idea of election was the similar to that of Greece, but Greece had practical political system as guarantee.
- 16.
Mencuis, Tengwengong xia.
- 17.
bu huan gua er haun bu jun. See the Analects of Confucius, jishi, chapter 16. (Yang 1980: 172).
- 18.
Chapter Liyun.
- 19.
Mencius, Gongsunchou Xia, the Chap. 1.
- 20.
Mencuis, Tengwengong Shang.
- 21.
Zhuang Tzu, chapter tiandao.
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Pan, Y. (2017). Traditional Rural Welfare: the State and Welfare Thoughts. In: Rural Welfare in China. International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56627-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56627-6_4
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