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

by Xun Liu

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.

Genres: China

281 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2000

Reviews

[Ngoc]

Quite entertaining in terms of interesting participant observations and informative regarding frequent references to great works by Lévi-Strauss, Bourdieu, Foucault, etc. Connection made between rural Chinese daily practices and the overall national economic and political processes throughout history is also thought provoking although small scale.

[versarbre]

It is an excellent example of the craftsmanship of an anthropological account of Chinese rural transition at the historical juncture of 1980s.

[Blake]

I really enjoyed reading this book for my anthropology class.