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A myth of modernity: the market hall reforms in China, 1900s–1940s

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2022

Gang Wang Open the ORCID record for Gang Wang [Opens in a new window]
Gang Wang*
Affiliation:
School of History & Culture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
*
*Corresponding author. Email: gun.wang@foxmail.com
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Abstract

As a result of the new approach to municipal food supply adopted in European cities, the market hall first appeared in China in the foreign concessions in Shanghai in the late nineteenth century. While some municipal governments across China had stimulated an increase in the number of market halls constructed from the beginning of the early twentieth century, the introduction of market halls did not achieve the effects that the authorities expected. Although market hall reforms in Suzhou, Hangzhou and Chengdu were different in detail, they were similar inasmuch as market halls did not become a regular feature of the daily life of the three cities. However, municipal governments continued to promote the market hall reforms despite their limited achievements and resistance from the public. The main purpose of Chinese municipal governments to promote market halls was not to solve practical problems, but to establish the market hall as a symbol of modernity. While the concessions in Shanghai managed by the westerners had already initiated a form of modernity, other Chinese cities responded by exhibiting a particular appreciation of the myth of modernity, and Chinese cities underwent as swift a process of modernization as the foreign concessions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Urban History , Volume 50 , Issue 4 , November 2023 , pp. 773 - 798
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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14 Ibid.

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22 The Eastern Times, 12 Aug. 1927, col. 2e.

23 ‘Zhejiangsheng gexian Sheli xiaocaichang qudi tanfan banfa’ (Regulation for the establishment of market halls and the management of vendors in counties of Zhejiang Province), Zhejiang Sheng Jianshe Yuekan (Zhejiang Construction Monthly), 6.12 (1933), fagui (laws), 21–2.

24 ‘Lun caishichang’ (Discussion about the market hall), A Review of the Times, 227 (1907), 11–15.

25 The Eastern Times, 17 Feb. 1909, col. 3.

26 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 29 Apr. 1913, col. 2b.

27 ‘Shanghai zhabei xiaocaichang zhi bilou’ (A shabby market hall in Zhabei, Shanghai), Taiping Daobao (Peace Herald), 1.7 (1926), attached page.

28 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 9 Oct. 1906, col. 10.

29 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 19 Jun. 1907, col. 10.

30 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 5 Dec. 1906, col. 10.

31 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 28 Feb. 1907, col. 2i.

32 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 27 Jun. 1907, col. 10.

33 Ibid., 28 Jul. 1907, col. 10.

34 Ibid., 30 Jan. 1909, col. 11.

35 Ibid., 6 Feb. 1909, col. 12.

36 The Eastern Times, 17 Feb. 1909, col. 3.

37 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 2 Mar. 1909, col. 1c.

38 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 18 Dec. 1910, col. 2 (3); ibid., 25 Dec. 1910, col. 2b.

39 The Eastern Times, 30 Dec. 1910, col. 3; ibid., 11 Jan. 1911, col. 3.

40 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 19 Jan. 1911, col. 2b–c.

41 The Eastern Times, 13 Mar. 1911, col. 4.

42 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 14 Mar. 1911, col. 2c.

43 Ibid., 13 Apr. 1911, col. 2c.

44 Ibid., 27 Apr. 1911, col. 4.

45 Ibid., 3 Apr. 1911, col. 2c.

46 Ibid., 26 Apr. 1911, col. 2c.

47 The Eastern Times, 20 Jun. 1911, col. 4.

48 Ibid., 28 Aug. 1911, col. 4.

49 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 8 Jun. 1911, col. 2c.

50 Ibid., 5 Aug. 1917, col. 2b.

51 Ibid., 5 Feb. 1927, col. 3c.

52 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 25 Aug. 1921, col. 11; The Eastern Times, 5 Nov. 1921, col. 2d; ibid., 10 May 1926, col. 1b.

53 Suzhou Municipal Archives (SMA), I14-2-13, Suzhou xunjing zongju wei jietou caitan linli xian wuri nei yilǚ yiru jiujin caichang jiaoyi zhaohui Suzhou shanghui (letter from Suzhou Police Bureau to Suzhou Chamber of Commerce for ordering all vendors to move into market halls within five days), 15 May 1912.

54 ‘Gongwu jihua yu shishi’ (Engineering plan and implementation), Suzhou Shizheng Choubei Chu Bannian Huikan (Semi-annual of the Preparatory Office of Suzhou Municipal Administration) (1928), 55.

55 Ibid., 59.

56 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 29 Dec. 1929, col. 2i.

57 SMA I14-2-526, Lindun lu Bingmasi qiao yidai shangmin wei zhuanqing xianfu zanhuan qudi benduan caitan gei xian shanghui de cheng (merchants along Lindun Road ask the county government to suspend the ban on street market), 16 May 1932.

58 Sin Wan Pao (News Daily), 10 Sep. 1933, col. 3j.

59 Ibid., 18 Oct. 1933, col. 17.

60 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 23 Oct. 1933, col. 2g.

61 Ibid., 30 Nov. 1933, col. 2h.

62 Ibid., 15 Dec. 1933, col. 2h.

63 Ibid., 8 Mar. 1934, col. 3j.

64 Suzhou Ming Bao (Suzhou News), 4 Jun. 1934, col. 5.

65 Ibid., 10 May 1935, col. 2f; ibid., 16 May 1935, col. 2f.

66 SMA I14-3-50, minsheng hunsu shipin shangdian wei minsheng shangdian bingfei caichang xingzhi gei wuxian shanghui de han (letter from Mingsheng Meat and Vegetable Store to Wu County Chamber of Commerce), 11 Jul. 1935.

67 SMA I14-3-52, xianrou gonghui wei Daotang xiang deng si chu xiaocaichang yuanyou tan dian qing zhuanju beian gei wuxian shanghui de han (letter from butchers to Wu County Chamber of Commerce for applying for market hall stalls), 15 Aug. 1937.

68 SMA I14-2-275, wuxian geye daibiao wei wuxian difang juankuan zhengshouchu zhiding fansheng jiedao shiwu chu wei linshi caichang weibei feichu keza shi han wuxian shanghui (letter from the representatives of various industries in Wu County to the Chamber of Commerce for the cancellation of temporary markets), 28 Feb. 1935.

69 SMA I4-5-928, wuxian juankuan zhengshou zong chu bennian shi shiyi shier sange yue gongzuo jihua (the schedule of the taxation office of Wu County in October, November and December of this year), Sep. 1945.

70 SMA I3-2-2, wuxian jingchaju dier fenju jingnei linshi caichang didian biao (list of temporary markets in the second branch of Wu County Police Bureau), 27 Oct. 1945.

71 For more details, see Zhang and Wang, ‘The construction of new-style public space in Hangzhou’, 128–31.

72 Hangzhou Minguo Ribao (Hangzhou Republican Daily News), 10 Jun. 1927, col. 2h.

73 Ibid., 17 Jun. 1927, col. 2g; Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 25 Jul. 1927, col. 2f; Hangzhou Dier Shangyeju (Hangzhou Second Bureau of Commerce), Hangzhou Dier Shangye Zhi (Hangzhou Second Commerce Chronicle) (Hangzhou, 1996), 5.

74 Shun Pao (Shanghai News), 11 Mar. 1931, supplements, col. 12.

75 Ibid., 7 Oct. 1928, col. 2f.

76 ‘Cheng shengzhengfu: wei xingxiu Longxiang qiao xiaocaichang pang renxinglu ji fanxiu dongpo lu dengchu zai linshi shiyefei nei kaizhi chaochu yusuan qingshi zun you’ (Submission from the Engineering Bureau to the provincial government for the construction of a sidewalk around Longxiang Bridge Market exceeds the budget), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.2 (1928), 16–17.

77 Hangzhou Municipal Archives, Minguo Shiqi Hangzhou Shizhengfu Dangan Shiliao Huibian (A Compilation of Archives of Hangzhou Municipal Government in the Republic of China) (1990), 201.

78 ‘Cheng shengzhengfu: wei Longxiang qiao linshi xiaocaichang jianzhufei qing zhun yu linshi shiyefei nei dongzhi you’ (Submission from the Engineering Bureau to the provincial government for the financial issue of constructing Longxiang Bridge Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.1 (1927), 34.

79 ‘Ling Hangzhou shi caizheng ju: fa gongwuju chengjie Longxiang qiao xiaocaichang si wu yuefen tanwei zujin you’ (Longxiang Bridge Market's rent amount in April and May), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.10 (1928), 77–8.

80 ‘Hangzhou shi xiaocaichang guanli guize’ (Administrative rule for market halls in Hangzhou), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.11 (1928), 15–16.

81 Zhejiang Ribao (Zhejiang Daily News), 26 Aug. 1908, col. 2c.

82 ‘Hangzhou shi xiaocaichang guanli guize’ (Administrative rule for market halls in Hangzhou), 16–17.

83 Hangzhou Municipal Archives, Minguo Shiqi Hangzhou Shizhengfu Dangan Shiliao Huibian (A Compilation of Archives of Hangzhou Municipal Government in the Republic of China), 202.

84 ‘Cheng yijian huicheng zhiding Yangshi jie xiaochenghuang miao qian kongdi dengchu wei gonggong tansuo you’ (Designating open spaces near Yangshi Street as public open-air markets), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.9 (1928), 40.

85 ‘Cheng yijian huicheng Genshan men xuecheng nei guandi deng liuchu kanzuo gonggong tansuo qingshi you’ (Six places including the state-owned land near Genshan city gate can be used as public open-air markets), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 1.11 (1928), 57.

86 ‘Hangzhou shi gonggong tansuo guanli guize’ (Administrative rule for public open-air markets in Hangzhou), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 2.5 (1929), 66.

87 ‘Ju gonganju chengqing zhuanchi gongwuju chongjian qinghefang xiaocaichang yangqi chahe you’ (Ordering the Engineering Bureau to rebuild Qinghefang Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 3.1 (1930), 39–40.

88 Ibid., 40.

89 ‘Zhejiang shengzhengfu minzhenting xunling diyiyiqisansi hao’ (Order no. 1173 of the Civil Affairs Department of Zhejiang Province), Zhejiang Minzhen Yuekan (Monthly of Zhejiang Civil Affairs Administration), 21 (1929), 151–2.

90 Ibid., 151.

91 ‘Hangzhou shi shangren chengban xiaocaichang zanxing guize’ (Interim rule for Hangzhou businessmen to contract into market hall projects), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 3.7 (1930), 19–20.

92 ‘Ling Ben zhengfu gongwuju: cheng yijian ju chengsong jianzhu Baizhi xiang caichang guji tubiao yingzhun zhaoban ren yangjiang yusuan shu heyi fuduo you’ (Budget for building Baizhi Alley Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 4.7 (1931), 29–30.

93 The Eastern Times, 3 Aug. 1934, col. 2.

94 ‘Chengbao chongxiu Baizhi xiang ji Chenghuangpailou caichang liangchu yingxu jianzhufei, ni zai ershisi niandu benfu yubeifei xiangxia kaizhi, jiansong tudan, qing Jianhe beian you’ (Budget for the reconstruction of Baizhi Alley Market and Chenghuang Archway Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Jikan (Quarterly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 3.4 (1935), gongdu (documents), 25.

95 ‘Jianzhu Maolang xiang xiaocaichang’ (Building Maolang Alley Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Yuekan (Monthly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 5.4 (1932), shizheng xiaoxi (news of municipal administration), 2–3.

96 ‘Bugao Fengshan men caichang kaishi riqi ji zujin dengji you’ (Opening date and rent grade of Fengshan Gate Market), Hangzhou Shizheng Jikan (Quarterly of Hangzhou Municipal Administration), 2.3 (1934), gongdu (documents), 15.

97 Hangzhou Municipal Archives, Minguo Shiqi Hangzhou Shizhengfu Dangan Shiliao Huibian (A Compilation of Archives of Hangzhou Municipal Government in the Republic of China), 200–1.

98 Ibid., 202.

99 Ibid., 203–4.

100 Hangzhou Shi Canyi Hui (Hangzhou Municipal Council), Hangzhou Shi Canyihui Diyijie Di Yi Er Ci Dahui Huikan (The Publication of the First and Second Meetings of Hangzhou Municipal Council) (1946), 135.

101 Hangzhou Municipal Archives, Minguo Shiqi Hangzhou Shizhengfu Dangan Shiliao Huibian (A Compilation of Archives of Hangzhou Municipal Government in the Republic of China), 337–8.

102 Chengdu Shi Difangzhi Bianzuan Weiyuanhui (The Editorial Board of Chengdu Chronicle), Chengdu Shizhi Dashiji (Chengdu Chronicle of Events) (Beijing, 2010), 663.

103 Chengdu Shi Difangzhi Bianzuan Weiyuanhui (The Editorial Board of Chengdu Chronicle), Chengdu Shizhi Shangye Zhi (Commercial Chronicles of Chengdu) (Chengdu, 1996), 181–2.

104 C. Fu, Chengdu Tonglan (Investigation of Chengdu) (Chengdu, 1987), pt 2, 34–5.

105 Guomin Gongbao (Citizens’ Daily), 18 Apr. 1928, col. 6.

106 ‘Chengdu shi diyi caichang qudi guize’ (Administrative rule for the first market hall of Chengdu), Chengdu Shi Shizheng Nianjian (Yearbook of Chengdu Municipal Administration) (1928), 528.

107 ‘Chengdu shizhengfu shiqinian ji shibanian quanniandu shizheng gangyao’ (The 17th and 18th annual policy outline of Chengdu Municipal Government), Chengdu Shi Shizheng Gongbao (Gazette of Chengdu Municipal Administration), 1 (1928), tezai (feature), 8–18.

108 ‘Pi Li Changjun deng cheng wei waixi huapaifang mifan jiu jie she shi fangai jiaotong ken chi qianyi yian wen’ (Reply to the petition to remove the rice vendors near Waixi archway), Chengdu Shi Shizheng Gongbao (Gazette of Chengdu Municipal Administration), 11 (1929), pishi (instructions), 8.

109 Xinxin Xinwen (Latest News), 24 Nov. 1935, col. 9.

110 Ibid., 4 Feb. 1936, col. 9.

111 Chengdu Shizhengfu Mishuchu (The Secretariat of Chengdu Municipal Government), Chengdu Shi Shizheng Tongji (Municipal Statistics of Chengdu) (1940), gongyong (utilities), 10.

112 Xinxin Xinwen (Latest News), 14 Sep. 1936, supplements, col. 1.

113 Ibid., 16 Dec. 1936, supplements, col. 1.

114 ‘Chengdu shizhengfu ershijiu niandu gongzuo baogao’ (The 29th annual report of Chengdu Municipal Government), Chengdu Shizhengfu Yuekan (Monthly of Chengdu Municipal Government), 1.1 (1941), 52; Shehui Bu Tongji Chu (Statistics Department of Ministry of Civil Affairs), Chengdu Shehui Gaikuang Diaocha (Social Survey of Chengdu) (1944), 55–6.

115 Xinxin Xinwen (Latest News), 18 Oct. 1936, supplements, col. 1.

116 Ibid., 1 Aug. 1937, col. 10.

117 Z. Zhou, Xin Chengdu (New Chengdu) (Chengdu, 1943), 231.

118 Xinxin Xinwen (Latest News), 29 Sep. 1943, col. 8; ibid., 3 Jan. 1944, col. 4; ibid., 14 Feb. 1944, col. 7.

119 Ibid., 29 Apr. 1947, col. 9.

120 Ibid., 30 Mar. 1937, col. 10.

121 Ibid., 7 Jan. 1943, col. 6.

122 ‘Chengdu shi xincun jianzhu jihua jiqi diyiqi diyici gongcheng’ (The construction plan and the first project of Chengdu new village), Chengdu Shi Shizheng Tongji (Municipal Statistics of Chengdu) (1940), gongwu (engineering), 11–14.

123 Shanghai Municipal Archives, U1-16-4650, gongbuju weishengchu nianbao, 1898–1901 (annual report of the Hygiene Department of Shanghai Municipal Council, 1898–1901).

124 Lu, Beyond the Neon Lights, 246–7.