Faith,Order,and Expression of Rights and Interests:Forms and Management System of Lingnan's Benevolent Societies During 1840-1949
After the first Opium War,benevolent societies became common in Lingnan region in Southern China.These so-cieties began with kinship-based clans,gradually expanded to villages based on geographical proximity,and further evolved into industries and businesses based on occupational ties,thus forming different ones with diverse purposes.During 1912-1949,benevolent societies were under the influence of western cultural systems,with their names and organizational structures in-creasingly exhibiting characteristics of modern corporate system.Benevolent societies embodied the worship toward ancestors and belief in ghosts and gods,which were thus deemed an extension of the traditional Confucian culture.Imbued with egalitarian and contractual consciousness,these societies propelled the rise and development of modern industry and commerce.By formu-lating rules and regulations,benevolent societies protected their members'rights and interests,thereby raising the awareness of individual rights among the populace,and laying the foundation for citizen awareness in building a modern nation.
Lingnan's benevolent societiesfaithorderrights and interests
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