Rural Reconstruction Movement
Encyclopedia
The Rural Reconstruction Movement was started in China
in the 1920s by Y.C. James Yen, Liang Shuming
and others to revive the Chinese village. They strove for a middle way, independent of the Nationalist government
but in competition with the radical revolutionary approach to the village espoused by Mao Zedong
and the Chinese Communist Party.
Yen's Ting Hsien (Ding Xian
) Experiment and Liang's school at Zouping, Shandong, were only the earliest and most prominent of hundreds of village projects, educational foundations, and government zones which aimed to change the Chinese countryside. After 1931 the Movement was prominent in building Chinese resistance to Japanese invasions by strengthening the village economy, culture, and political structure, including pioneering work in village health.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War
, Rural Reconstruction activists were at first important by being part of the China Democratic League
, but then were rendered politically irrelevant in the emerging war between the Chinese Communists and the Guomindang.
In 1948, however, James Yen persuaded the American Congress to fund the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction
. Before moving to Taiwan, the JCRR carried out land reform
and education projects. On Taiwan in the 1950s, the JCRR was key in laying the rural foundation for the quick economic growth
of the 1960s and 1970s. Until today, the rural reconstruction movement started by Dr. James Yen continues to impact hundreds of lives of poor peasants from Asia, Africa and latin America. The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Headquarters is based in the Philippines. IIRR celebrated its 50th anniverssary in 2010. See www.iirr.org . In the 1990s, several academics and social reformers started a New Rural Reconstruction Movement
, with a station at Ding County.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in the 1920s by Y.C. James Yen, Liang Shuming
Liang Shuming
Liang Shuming , October 18, 1893—June 23, 1988), born Liang Huanding , courtesy name Shouming , was a philosopher, teacher, and leader in the Rural Reconstruction Movement in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican eras of Chinese history.Liang was of Guilin, Guangxi origin, but born in Beijing...
and others to revive the Chinese village. They strove for a middle way, independent of the Nationalist government
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
but in competition with the radical revolutionary approach to the village espoused by Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
and the Chinese Communist Party.
Yen's Ting Hsien (Ding Xian
Dingzhou
Dingzhou |subdistricts]], 13 towns, 8 townships, and 1 autonomous township. Dingzhou is southwest of Beijing, northeast of Shijiazhuang.-History:...
) Experiment and Liang's school at Zouping, Shandong, were only the earliest and most prominent of hundreds of village projects, educational foundations, and government zones which aimed to change the Chinese countryside. After 1931 the Movement was prominent in building Chinese resistance to Japanese invasions by strengthening the village economy, culture, and political structure, including pioneering work in village health.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, Rural Reconstruction activists were at first important by being part of the China Democratic League
China Democratic League
The China Democratic League is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China.The party was established in 1939 and took its present name in 1944. At its formation, it was a coalition of three pro-democracy parties and three pressure groups...
, but then were rendered politically irrelevant in the emerging war between the Chinese Communists and the Guomindang.
In 1948, however, James Yen persuaded the American Congress to fund the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction
Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction
Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction Established in 1948.After intensive lobbying by Y.C. James Yen, the American Congress included a provision in the China Aid Act of 1948 to fund an independent entity which would take advantage of Yen's experience in the Rural Reconstruction...
. Before moving to Taiwan, the JCRR carried out land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
and education projects. On Taiwan in the 1950s, the JCRR was key in laying the rural foundation for the quick economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
of the 1960s and 1970s. Until today, the rural reconstruction movement started by Dr. James Yen continues to impact hundreds of lives of poor peasants from Asia, Africa and latin America. The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Headquarters is based in the Philippines. IIRR celebrated its 50th anniverssary in 2010. See www.iirr.org . In the 1990s, several academics and social reformers started a New Rural Reconstruction Movement
New Rural Reconstruction Movement
New Rural Reconstruction is an intellectual current and social movement initiated by Wen Tiejun and other activists to address the crisis they saw in the Chinese countryside at the start of the 21st century...
, with a station at Ding County.