DEBATES ON THE BIRTH OF CAPITALISM IN CHINA DURING THE PAST THREE DECADES

Abstract

AbstractResearch on the birth of capitalism in China began in 1955, apparently initiated by a discussion of the social background of the famous novel HONGLOUMENG (A DREAM OF RED MANSIONS) written by Cao Xueqin (?–1763) during the mid-eighteenth century. In January 1955 Deng Tuo published an article entitled “Lun HONGLOUMENG de shehui beijing he lishi yiyi” (“A Discussion of the Social Background and Historical Meaning of A DREAM OF RED MANSIONS“) in which he presehted a bold new interpretation of the novel. In his introduction, Deng first accused the well-known literary specialist Hu Shi of distorting the main theme of the novel by calling it a romantic story of remorse for an unrequited love. Deng argued that during the reign of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong emperors, and particularly during the first half of the eighteenth century, China's “feudal society” had begun to dissolve and that a capitalist economy was emerging. One of Deng's conclusions was that the novel should be regarded as a represen...