Eduard B. Vermeer - Böcker

During the past few years, some 200 stone inscriptions have been copied by the Chinese historian Lin Renchuan ,.,tt {::.. II\ in different places in South Fukien. In 1987, in the course of a study of the history of land reclamation, I had the occasion to roam through the mountains and coastal plains of South Fukien with Professor Lin, and read his collection. Most of the texts have never been published in any form. A f~w, usually by famous authors such as, for instance, Ts'ai Hsiang~ J._ , have already been included in one or more of the few Fukienese collections of ancient stone and bronze inscriptions known to me1. Some can be traced, in complete or excerpted form, in the municipal or county gazetteers of the area from which they come. A few texts have also been published in modem collections, and one or two have even been translated into Engljsb and been commented upon (not accidentally, the latter concern religion and overseas voyages, traditional subjects of European interest). N"mety percent of these texts, however, have never been collected or quoted before. Lin Renchuan hopes to publish them in Chinese in the near future. Only eight such collections (of original texts, without translations or commentary), with materials drawn from Kiangsu, Soochow, Peking, Shangba;, Yunnan, Canton, Kwangsi and Taiwan, have been published since 19492.

This book presents texts of stone inscriptions that reflect some aspects of Fukienese history, including the creation of irrigated farmland, improvement of communications, overseas trade and migration, strong clan ties, religious activities, government taxation, military affairs and civil unrest.

Dr Vermeer's study of the economic development on Central Shaanxi province from 1930 until 1988, when this was first published, illustrates the effects of famine, war and construction under Chinese communism. It focuses in particular on the organisational and technical potential of agriculture and industry to make use of the natural advantages of the region. Modernisation in Shaanxi was brought in from outside, with a dominant role for government institutions, and rapidly transformed the face of country and city. The book portrays the growing pains of a frontier economy, examining such crucial natural barriers to agricultural expansion as lack of irrigation water. It describes the technological advances, using clear maps to illustrate the development of transport, population distribution, soils, irrigation projects and cropping patterns. The extensive economy survey of counties in hill and plain areas, based on data from local government and the author's own observations, reveals great regional differences.

Presents new insights into recent changes in China's legal framework in areas crucial to the modernisation process. Topics include law reform to accommodate foreign interests and convert China to a market economy, the judicial system and its treatment of human rights issues, the introduction of non-tariff barriers for foreign companies, and the current privatisation process.

Following China's successful decollectivization, diverse new organizational forms arose in response to different local situations. The contributors dissect the relationships among the emerging class of entrepreneurs, local officials, and their family members and associates.

Presents new insights into recent changes in China's legal framework in areas crucial to the modernisation process. Topics include law reform to accommodate foreign interests and convert China to a market economy, the judicial system and its treatment of human rights issues, the introduction of non-tariff barriers for foreign companies, and the current privatisation process.