In One's Own Shadow

Abstract

China underwent a dramatic social transformation in the last decade of the twentieth century. This ethnographic study of one community focuses on the logic of everyday practice in post-reform rural China. Enriched with many anecdotes describing life in the village of Zhaojiahe in northwestern China, this book analyzes the changes and continuities marking the recent history of this region and highlights the broader implications for the way we understand Chinese modernity. Its narrative provides an evocative exploration of many domains of everyday life, such as kinship and marriage traditions, food systems, ceremonial celebrations, social relations, and village politics. The book brings to life many of the personalities and customs of Zhaojiahe as it presents the villagers' strategies to modernize in an environment of scarce resources and a discredited cultural heritage.

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