ABSTRACT
The Chinese feudal society had existed far about three thousand years, and was attacked by foreign capitalism. When (it was) proceeding to the primitive accumulation of capital, it was not, however, completely destroyed, but transformed into...
ABSTRACT
The Chinese feudal society had existed far about three thousand years, and was attacked by foreign capitalism. When (it was) proceeding to the primitive accumulation of capital, it was not, however, completely destroyed, but transformed into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.
This paper is intended to analyze the process of the primitive accumulation of capital in China which was done under the invasion of foreign capitalism, which could be dichotomized into the first stage (1840-1894) and the second (1895-1922).
Above analyses lead to the following conclusions.
First, Before the Opium war, the Chinese feudal society had included the germination of capitalism in it through the development of commodity economy. But this does not mean that it accomplished the primitive accumulation of capital.
Second, When the primitive accumulation of capital and the capitalistic mode of production began, most manufacture could not be transformed into the capitalistic factory system because of the attack of imported foreign commodity and the oppression of feudal powers.
In other words, Chinese manufacture could not play the role of the primitive accumulation of capital in China.
Third, Since foreign imperialism invaded China, without destroying feudalism, it severely exploitated Chinese peasants and simple commodity producers with the help of landlords, merchants, and usurymen, therefore produced a large number of proletarians who lost means of production.
Fourth, Imperialist enterprises in China, which had been formed through the exploitation of Chinese pesants and simple commodity producers, had powerful positions in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal China. Their capital was accumulated through the exploitation and consequently simulated the primitive accumulation of capital.
Fifth, The national capitalism of China appeared and developed under the oppression of imperialism and feudal powers. Therefore national capitalism was subjected to the oppression and restriction of these two, and inseparately related of them.
Sixth, Bourgeoisie and proletariat were formed in the process of the primitive accumulation of capital. The predecessor of bourgeoisis was bureaucrats, landlords, and merchants, but on the contrary that of proletariat was pesants and simple commodity producers.
Like any other Capitalism, the Chinese primitive accumulation of capital was accomplished by making use of violent exploitation. Especially since the invasion of foreign capitalism, the use of violence was even more cruel because Chinese capitalism came into existence under the more cruel because Chinese capitalism came into existence under the double oppression of internal feudalism and external imperialism.