In One's Own Shadow: An Ethnographic Account of the Condition of Post-reform Rural China - Tapa blanda

"The problems encountered by Xiu Lin in answering the entirely relevant questions he asks are exemplary of the problems encountered in some research, that is the loose links established between theoretical developments and empirical data. As such, they deserve to stimulate debate about the methodological and conceptual approaches considered legitimate nowadays in the field of ethnographic research. . . . There is much to be learned from reading this book." --China Perspectives

China underwent a dramatic social transformation in the last decade of the twentieth century. This powerful ethnographic study of one community focuses on the logic of everyday practice in post-reform rural China. Enriched with many vivid anecdotes describing life in the village of Zhaojiahe in northwestern China, "In One's Own Shadow" skillfully analyzes the changes and continuities marking the recent history of this region and highlights the broader implications for the way we understand Chinese modernity. Liu's narrative provides a wonderfully evocative exploration of many domains of everyday life such as kinship and marriage traditions, food systems, ceremonial celebrations, social relations, and village politics. He brings to life many of the personalities and customs of Zhaojiahe as he presents the villagers' strategies to modernize in an environment of scarce resources and a discredited cultural heritage. This accessibly written ethnography will be an essential contribution to the anthropology of China.