From Economic History to Cultural History: A Review on Issues of Traditional Jiangnan Studies

Jiangnan area (the southern area of Yangtze River) has become the most important economic and cultural center in China ever since Tang and Song Dynasties, it not only is China’s Jiangnan, but also Jiangnan of the world. With the large-scale discussion over sprouting capitalism, stories of historical events in Jiangnan have been topics in different fields of study. The study of Jiangnan region is a path to social and cultural history, and also a necessary orientation for constructing the national history in which the role of the state is manifested in regional development and history. Moreover, Jiangnan is an important example of regional comparison in China and all over the world.It is essential in the history of China’s regional development and a testing ground for the overall situation and basic characteristics of Chinese historical development. “Jiangnan” is cross-studied in economics, politics, social and cultural history, but its political history should be further emphasized.