The History of Famine Relief in China

The first English translation of Deng Yunte's study of famine relief throughout the history of China.

Yunte Deng (Author)

9781108479905, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 July 2020

660 pages, 41 tables
23.5 x 15.6 x 4.4 cm, 1.12 kg

Deng Yunte was a respected academic and artist. He was also a propagandist and political commentator, before becoming one of the earliest victims of the Cultural Revolution. He committed suicide in 1966. This is the first English translation of his classic study of famine relief in Chinese history. Richly researched, Deng plots the history of famine from ancient times to the Republican period, and explores the impact of famine relief in China with a focus on social and economic forces. This is a unique and revealing text, not only as a study of famine in China, but as an example of historical scholarship from twentieth-century China.

Author's foreword to the 1958 reprint
Author's general notes on the 1937 print
Sigla and translator's general notes
Introduction to the English edition by Timothy Cheek
Introduction
Part I. Disasters and Famines in China: 1. Disasters and famines in China: a review of facts
2. Disasters and famines in China: a review of causes
3. Consequences of famines and disasters
Part II. Disaster and Famine Relief: A Review of Ideas: 4. Praying to deities to disperse 'evils'
5. Ideas for reactive relief
6. Ideas for disaster prevention
Part III. Implementation of Disaster and Famine Relief Policies in Chinese History: 7. Sorcery as a relief measure: a review of records
8. Implementation of reactive relief policies in Chinese history
9. Implementation of policies of proactive disaster prevention
Afterword. Tuo Deng and his History of Famine Relief in China
Appendix I. Chronicle of events in the History of Famine Relief in China
Appendix II. Chronology of Tuo Deng
Appendix III. Glossary of proper names.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Asian history [HBJF]