How Rice Farming Shaped Culture in Southern China

Abstract

We present a detailed theory linking southern China’s history of rice farming to its modern-day culture. It explains how rice was farmed traditionally, what makes it different from other major staple crops, and why these differences could shape culture. Next, the chapter reviews empirical evidence that people who have grown up in the rice areas of China have different relationship styles and thought styles from people in the wheat areas. It also discusses why the rice theory is not ecological determinism—rice does not automatically lead to collectivism. Finally, it asks whether modernization is signaling the death of rice culture or whether cultures rooted in historical subsistence style can persist even after less than 2% of the population actually farms for a living.

Historically rice-farming societies have tighter social norms in China and worldwide

“…Rice is a starkly different crop from wheat. Premodern paddy rice required twice the labor hours per hectare as crops like wheat, corn, and potatoes ( 6 – 8 ). Rice farming was more work because it involved tasks that wheat did not.…”

“…For example, wheat farmers planted seeds directly in the field, but paddy rice farmers first planted seeds in small seedbeds (so that they could tightly control water levels), then later transplanted them to the field. What’s more, rice farmers completed these tasks in wet, muddy fields, which made even the same tasks take longer ( 7 ).…”

“…Far from a China phenomenon, labor exchange was common to rice around the world. Anthropologists have observed labor-exchange customs in rice villages from Japan to West Africa ( 7 – 9 ).…”

Crossing the rice-wheat border: Not all intra-cultural adaptation is equal

“…According to Talhelm and colleagues [ 4 ], rice cultivation requires extensive coordination and sharing of resources, which fosters reciprocal obligations and tight relationships among close social networks. In these regions, the cultural norms of context require individuals to navigate the interconnected web of relationships [ 38 ]. These social ties create a context where collectivist ways of life become normalized—where the needs of the community are placed over the needs of the individual.…”

“…Overall, this supports the theory that environments shape cultural norms. However, most, if not all, of China’s rice production takes the form of irrigated paddy farming, where villagers actively irrigated, shared water, and harvested the season’s crop together [ 38 ]. Thus, the cultural links to different styles of rice-farming in India may not be found in China.…”