This title was first published in 1978. The present study is an outgrowth of the author's puzzlement with an obvious paradox: Whereas the Chinese have always stressed the importance of their agricultural revolution in human, social and political term s, the community of Western observers has been increasingly fascinated by its more technological and quantitative achievements. While a great deal has been written about these latter aspects, Chinese invitations to take a closer look at the former ones have gone largely unheeded, particularly in the more economic-oriented quarters among China-watchers. This study tries to fill that gap.
