Hill Farms and Padi Fields: Life in Mainland Southeast Asia

by Robbins Burling

Hill Farms and Padi Fields portrays the peoples of Southeast Asia their long, rich history and their ways of life today. Exploring the cultures of these peoples, the author, Robbins Burling, considers their varied ideas of family and community; their religions and economics; and, their languages, moral codes and social outlooks. In informal, yet informative, style, this book brings out the contrast between hill and plains peoples; the Chinese and Indian influence which stimulated Southeast Asian Civilization; and the conflicts between immigrant and native-born. These forces have not only directed the region's history, but continue to shape modern day Southeast Asia.

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1965

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

“ ‘Hill farms and padi fields’ portrays the people of South-east Asia, their long rich history and their way of life today. Today, meaning till 1965, the date of publication of this book.
I cannot judge how important the difference between the people from the hills and the padi fields is or was. Traveling through Thailand now (Oct. 2015) this difference is not very obvious as for instance the difference between the people from the cities and the rural arrears is.

What for me even fifty years after publication makes the book an interesting read is the description of the different tribes, their long history and arrears where they life. As well as the general views of South-east Asia as a part of the world with a common history and culture over thousands of years.

In Bangkok I visited the ASEAN cultural center ( www.elibrary-acc.com ) which tries to connect to this long history and shared cultural heritage and adding a new dimension for today and the future. All worth a visit, as the book is still worth reading.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dated, but interesting read all the same.