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From public interest to public obligation: compulsory land expropriation for capital reconstruction in Nationalist China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2020

Carmen C.M. Tsui Open the ORCID record for Carmen C.M. Tsui [Opens in a new window]
Carmen C.M. Tsui*
Affiliation:
B6322, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

In 1927, the Nationalist government launched an ambitious project to transform Nanjing into a modern capital. During this reconstruction process, private lands were seized in the name of public interest for the construction of public works. In the face of opposition from affected landowners, Nationalist leaders shifted the emphasis from ‘public interest’ (gonggong liyi) to ‘public obligation’ (shimin zeren), stressing the duty of urban residents to support capital reconstruction and stigmatizing opponents as anti-development. This article examines compulsory land expropriation in Nationalist China and shows how the government turned discourses of public interest and public obligation into modern land laws.

Type
Research Article
Information
Urban History , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , May 2022 , pp. 383 - 400
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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References

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2 See Guodu Sheji Jishu Juanyuan Banshichu, Shoudu Jihua [Capital Plan] (Nanjing, 1929).

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8 Xiao Zheng is often translated as Hsiao Tseng. The investigative reports are collected in Xiao, Z. (ed.), Minguo Ershi Niandai Zhongguo Dalu Tudi Wenti Ziliao [Materials on the Land Problem of 1920s China] (Taipei, 1977)Google Scholar.

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17 R.S. Chen, Gonggong Yishi Yu Zhongguo Wenhua [Public Awareness and Chinese Culture] (Beijing, 2005), 112.

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19 See Q.C. Liang, Xinmin Shuo [Discourse on the New Citizen] (Shanghai, 1936).

20 P. Zarrow, ‘Introduction: citizenship in China and the west’, in Fogel and Zarrow (eds.), Imagining the People: Chinese Intellectuals and the Concept of Citizenship, 1890–1920, 18.

21 M. Goldman and E.J. Perry, ‘Introduction’, in Goldman and Perry (eds.), Changing Meanings of Citizenship in Modern China, 5.

22 See Y.-S. Sun, The International Development of China (London, 1929).

23 M. Tsin, ‘Canton remapped’, in J. Esherick (ed.), Remaking the Chinese City: Modernity and National Identity, 1900–1950 (Honolulu, 1999), 19–29.

24 Cody, Building in China, 180–2.

25 See Nanjing Municipal Archives, file 1001-3-119, ‘Jiang Jieshi yuchi zhengdun shirong gexiang’ [Instructions from Chiang Kai-Shek on the rectification of the city's appearance], 1937. See also ‘Chaiqian lupang penghu’ [Demolish the road-side slums], Shoudu Shizheng Gongbao [Administration Report of the Capital], 80 (1931), 1.

26 Nanjing Tebieshi Zhengfu Mishuchu, Yinian Lai Zhi Shoudu Shizheng [Capital Administration in the Last Year] (Nanjing, 1928), 60.

27 P.S. Buck, ‘The new road’, in The First Wife and Other Stories (New York, 1933), 257–76.

28 He, ‘Shoudu shizheng zhoukan chuban xuanyan’ [Publication manifesto for the Capital Municipal Administration Weekly].

29 ‘Jing zhongshanlu zhi gongcheng chengbei zhuhu xiang zhongyang qingyuan’ [Petition to the central government regarding the construction of Zhongshan Avenue in the capital from residents of the northern part of the city], Shen Bao, 20 Aug. 1928.

30 ‘Nanjingshi shangzhanghui wei chaiwu shi cheng shizhengfu wen’ [Petition from the Nanjing Merchants’ Association to the municipal government against the demolition of houses], Shi Bao [The Eastern Times], 30 Aug. 1928.

31 ‘Shifu xuanchuanzhou chufa qingxing’ [Municipal government propaganda week commencement scene], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 13 Mar. 1928.

32 Y.J. Chen, ‘Jianshe shoudu shizheng zhi wojian’ [My opinion regarding the reconstruction of the capital's administration], Nanjing Tebieshi Shizheng Gongbao [Administration Report of the Nanjing Special Municipal City], 12 (1928), 6–10.

33 M.H. He, ‘Women sangeyue de gongzuo jihua’ [Our working plan for these three months], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 10 Apr. 1928.

34 ‘Nanjing teibieshi shizhengfu wei fangkuan jianzhu yirenxiang wumalu yidai malu gonggao quanshi minzhong’ [Public announcement from the Nanjing special municipal government to all people in the city regarding the construction and widening of roads in the area of Yiren Lane and Wuma Road], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 24 Apr. 1928.

35 ‘Nanjing tebieshi shizhenfu zai gao yirenxiang wumajie ganlu de minzhongmen’ [Nanjing Special Municipal City notice residents of Yiren Lane and Wuma Street again], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 15 May 1928.

36 C.C. Ye, ‘Shimin de zeren’ [Obligations of urban residents], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 8 May 1928.

37 J.W. Liu, ‘Liu shizhang zai benfu dishierci jinianzhou zhi baogao’ [Report from Mayor Liu at the 12th commemoration week], Nanjing Tebieshi Shizheng Gongbao [Administration Report of the Nanjing Special Municipal City], 1928.

38 ‘Jing shimin zhizhai Liu Jiwen’ [Citizens of the capital criticize Liu Jiwen], Jianyue Zhoukan [Review Weekly], 1928, 37.

39 J.W. Liu, Liu Shizhang Shizheng Baogao Jiyao [Excerpts of Mayor Liu's Administration Report], ed. Nanjing Tebieshi Zhengfu Mishuchu (Nanjing, 1930).

40 J.W. Liu, ‘Wei xingzhu zhongshan dadao gao shoudu minzhong’ [Announcement to city masses regarding the construction of Zhongshan Avenue], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 3 Sep. 1928.

41 J.W. Liu, ‘Liu shizhang zai benfu dishici zongli jinianzhou zhi baogao’ [Report from Mayor Liu at the 10th commemoration week], Shoudu Shizheng Zhoukan [Capital Administration Weekly], 1 Oct. 1928.

42 Y.-S. Sun, San Min Chu I [The Three Principles of the People], trans. F.W. Price and L.-T. Chen (Taipei, 1953), 173–6.

43 See P.M.A. Linebarger, The Political Doctrines of Sun Yat-sen: An Exposition of the San Min Chu I (Baltimore, 1937); Schiffrin, H.Z., ‘Sun Yat-sen's early land policy: the origin and meaning of “equalization of land rights”’, Journal of Asian Studies, 16 (1957), 549–64CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Lin, S., ‘Sun Yat-sen and Henry George: the essential role of land policy in their doctrines’, American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 33 (1974), 201–20Google Scholar.

44 George, H., Progress and Poverty (London, 1913), 201Google Scholar.

45 Ibid., 287–8.

46 Y.-S. Sun, ‘Fundamentals of national reconstruction for the national government of China’, in Fundamentals of National Reconstruction (Taipei, 1953), 11–12.

47 Sun, Y.-S., ‘The three people's principles and the future of the Chinese people’, in Wei, J.L., Myers, R.H. and Gillin, D.G. (eds.), Prescriptions for Saving China: Selected Writings of Sun Yat-sen, trans. Wei, J.L., Zen, E.-S. and Chao, L. (Stanford, 1994), 47Google Scholar.

48 Y.-S. Sun, ‘Kuomintang's political program of 1924’, in Fundamentals of National Reconstruction, 60.

49 Y.-S. Sun, ‘Pingjun diquan zhi juti shuoming’ [Concrete measures to equalize land rights], in Zongli Quanshu [The Complete Collection of Sun Yat-sen], vol. II (Taipei, 1951), 137–9.

50 Second Historical Archives of China, file 393:0:1109, ‘Guodu sheji jishu zhuanyuan banshichu gonghan’ [Official letter from the Office of Technical Experts for Capital Design], 1929–47. See also Second Historical Archives of China, file 002:1:1236, ‘Nanjingshi wei gaishan shirong ji jianzhu jiguan deng zhengshou tudi’ [Nanjing municipality seized land to improve the city's appearance and to construct state buildings], 1928–35.

51 The committee composed of the mayor of Nanjing (who served as the chair of the committee), the director of the Financial Bureau, the director of the Land Bureau, a Peasants’ Association representative and a Merchants’ Association representative. See X.Q. Liu, ‘Nanjingshi tudi zhengshou zhi yanju’ [Study on the land requisition of Nanjing], Minguo Ershi Niandai Zhongguo Dalu Tudi Wenti Ziliao [Materials on the Land Problem of 1920s China], vol. XCIV (Taipei, 1977), 49661.

52 Ibid., 49634–5.

53 Ibid., 469649–50.

54 ‘Xinjiekou guangchang banli zhengdi zhi jingguo qingxing’ [Handling the process of the land expropriation for Xinjiekou Square], Shoudu Shizheng Gongbao [Administration Report of the Capital], 71 (1930), 8–10.

55 Liu, Liu Shizhang Shizheng Baogao Jiyao [Excerpts of Mayor Liu's Administration Report], 58–63.

56 ‘Jingwulu zhengdi jiufen’ [Conflict during the expropriation of Jingwu Road], Shen Bao, 23 Apr. 1935.

57 ‘Dr. Sun Yat-sen’, The North China Herald, 16 Mar. 1929.

58 X.X. Kong, ‘Shoudu kaipi malu yingjiu yanlu liangpang fenbie shengfei an’ [Imposing cost apportionment levy on the properties along the new roads in the capital], in Shoudu Jianshe Weiyuanhui (ed.), Shoudu Jianshe Weiyuanhui Diyici Quanti Dahui Tekan [Special Publication of the First Assembly of the National Capital Reconstruction Commission] (Nanjing, 1930), 91.

59 Nanjing Municipal Archives, file 1001-10-19, ‘Jiangkanglu xiduan tanfei’ [Cost sharing of the western section of Jiankang Road], n.d.

60 Nanjing Municipal Archives, file 1001-10-7, ‘Hanzhonglu, dongpailou, dixiang, jiankanglu tanfei’ [Cost sharing for Hanzhong Road, Dongpailou, Di Lane, Jiankang Road], 1937.

61 Nanjing Municipal Archives, file 1001-10-3, ‘Xinjiekou ji tangfangqiaolu tanfei huiyi jilu’ [Meeting minutes for the cost sharing of Xinjiekou and Tangfangqiao Road], n.d.

62 ‘Jingshi zhulu tanfei wenti’ [Questions regarding the road construction cost apportionment], Daolu Yuekan [The Good Roads Monthly], 35 (1931), 7–9.

63 ‘Fu geshi shouyong tudi zhangcheng zhaiyao leibie biao’ [Table showing the land expropriation policy in various cities], Shizheng Yuekan [City Administration Monthly], 1 (1927), 16–17; ‘Hangzhoushi kaipi huo gaikuan jiedao zhengfei zanhang zhangcheng’ [Temporary regulation for the road construction and widening levy in Hangzhou], Shizheng Yuekan [City Administration Monthly], 1 (1927), 17–18.

64 Nanjing Municipal Archives, file 1001-10-1, ‘Xiuzheng chengshi gailiangqu tebie zhengfei tongze, benshi zhulu tanfei zanhang guize, ji weiyuanhui zuzhi guize caoan’ [Revised city improved area special levy regulation, temporary regulation on the apportionment of road construction costs and draft committee organization rules], 1937.