NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 1 93 



In the "Introduction to the Economic History of China," Kirby 

 (1954, pp. 38-39) states that scientific archeology in the 1930's 

 brought about a great change in the interpretation of early Chinese 

 history. Instead of the legendary reigns of divine or semidivine 

 rulers, a dependable chronology was established that profoundly influ- 

 enced Chinese thought. It resulted in a widespread upsetting of old- 

 established values. A few of these archeologists were Westerners, but 

 most of the work was done by Chinese, such as Dr. Li-chi of the 

 Academia Sinica, who were well trained for their work in great 

 foreign universities, or by other Chinese whom they had trained. 

 This, and to a considerable extent the whole renaissance movement, 

 was a byproduct of contacts with Western civilization. 



One of the ways in which new ideas and practices reached West 

 China from East China was through newspapers, journals, and books. 

 While there are great differences in the dialects of China, the written 

 and printed language is everywhere the same and can be understood 

 by all who are able to read. The lunar almanac is almost a bulwark 

 of conservatism, but in the issue of 1928, which as usual was the 

 same for all China, there were suggestions for wedding ceremonies 

 that included several innovations adapted from foreign customs. 

 Many of the best foreign books were translated into Chinese, pub- 

 lished in East China, and circulated by schools, libraries, and book- 

 stores throughout the entire nation. Scientific and other journals and 

 many newspapers were published, and some of these had a wide 

 circulation. 



During the last war between China and Japan and during World 

 War II, there occurred what may have been the greatest migration 

 in human history. It is estimated that more than 40 million people 

 left their homes in East China and migrated westward. Many of 

 these millions found their way to West China, Vvhere they lived for 

 several years. Many Chinese universities and business organizations 

 moved west for the duration of the war. Among the migrants were 

 people of all classes — farmers, laborers, students, teachers, scholars, 

 scientists, businessmen, politicians. Christian leaders, wives, and chil- 

 dren. This hastened the cultural diffusion, and increased the tend- 

 encies that we have been describing. It also created a housing prob- 

 lem that was accentuated by the Japanese bombing of Chinese cities 

 and resulted in the using of many temples as hotels, houses, and 

 apartments. 



While there were conservative people, especially uneducated labor- 

 ers, farmers, and old men and women, who were disappointed and 



