An investigation of land subletting during Republican period on Chengdu Plain

Abstract

Subletting land was widely practiced throughout the Chinese countryside during the early 20^th century. The various modes of land subletting in the Chengdu Plains during the Republican period included sharecropping, contracted tenancy and a large-tract tenancy system. The subletting caused many conflicts among tenants, like the transfer of tax liability, etc. The reasons why there were so many lands being leased out were: (1) The ecological pressure caused by a surplus of people with little available land. (2) The civil customs of subletting land and national laws opposed each other but also complemented each other. (3) Subletting land was a supplement of the tenancy system, and also an economic activity driven by interests.

摘要

土地转租是近代中国农村普遍存在的一种现象。 民国时期成都平原土地转租的主要形式有分佃、 包佃及大佃制。 转佃的盛行造成不少租佃纠纷, 如欠税责任转移等。 转佃盛行的原因有: (1) 人多地少, 生态环境压力增大; (2) 民间转佃习 惯与国家法律存在冲突, 也互为补充; (3) 转佃是租佃制的一种补充, 是一种受利益驱动的经济行为。