Land Ownership of Families in Son La: A View from Cadastral Records in the Minh Menh’s Year

Abstract

The issue of land is always a key issue when studying the feudal agricultural economy. Currently, in the economic structure of Son La province, the agricultural economy is still the main economic sector of most ethnic groups. Therefore, the study of issues on land and agricultural economy in the past is of greater significance. During the feudal period, the land ownership situation of Son La province was recorded in the original cadastral records kept at the National Archives No. 1 in Hanoi. Total 34 cadastral records in Sino-Vietnamese characters in Son La province are 34 “động” and communes at different times. In the Minh Menh’s 21st year (1840), there were 11 cadastral records listing land area of 5 “châu” (Phu Yen, Thuan, Son La, Mai Son, Yen) with 11 communes which clearly showed the difference in land ownership among the families in Son La province.