Geng Xiufeng Diaries
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2010
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Languages:
Chinese
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Geng Xiufeng Diaries
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0718
Physical Description:
3.4 Linear feet
(9 archives boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1944-1992
Abstract: Writings of Geng Xiufeng, peasant activist and leader from the village of Wugong, China. The collection contains 55 bound,
handwritten diaries and one folder of loose pages written by Geng from 1944 to 1992, documenting his reactions to agricultural
reforms directed by the state.
Biography
Geng Xiufeng was born in the village of Wugong, China, in 1913. Geng received seven years of primary education and worked
in education and publishing. In the 1940s his interest in agrarian socialism led him to organize several small agricultural
cooperatives. He later particiated in the formation of one of the first large co-ops in his home village of Wugong and continued
to promote co-op formation for many years.
In the 1980s Geng met American historian Paul Pickowicz who was interviewing North China peasants for oral history research
projects. Geng shared with him volumes of his writings, which included a record of events in his life, his thoughts on state
directed agricultural reforms, and letters written to powerful officials. Pickowicz used these writings as key sources for
two books and several articles including:
Chinese Village, Socialist State (Yale 1991) and
Revolution, Resistance, and Reform in Village China (Yale, 2005).
Geng had a stroke in 1995, which forced him to stop writing. He died in 1999.
Scope and Contents of Collection
The Geng Xiufeng Diaries, comprised of 55 bound, handwritten diaries and one folder of loose pages, were written by Geng
Xiufeng from 1944 to 1992. The diaries, written in Chinese, document Geng's life in the village of Wugong, China, as well
as his thoughts on the government and agricultural reforms directed by the state.
Volumes were numbered by Paul Pickowicz and are arranged in numerical order by those numbers. Several of the volumes have
dates in English on the cover or first page. These are noted when they occur, but may not represent the entire date range
within.
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2010.
Preferred Citation
Geng Xiufeng Diaries, MSS 718. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Agricultural laborers
Agriculture and state -- China
Agriculture -- China
Geng, Xiufeng -- Archives
Box 2, Folder 2
2D - Several pages flagged by Pickowicz, "my 1978 visit," "my 1980 visit"
Box 6, Folder 2
10B - Several pages flagged by Pickowicz, "March 2, 1987 Letter to Deng," "May 23, 1987 Letter to Du," "August 9, 1987 Letter
to Deng"
Box 8, Folder 6, Oversize FB-491-04
31 - Volume contains graphite drawings of Zhu De and Mao Zedong and broadside entitled "Manifesto of Land Partnership Coop"
(oversized)
Box 9, Folder 2
33 - Loose pages
ca. 1988
