the Gentry in China

Hsiao-tung Fei is known as the author of an expert in the area of Chinese village,which is a symbol of Chinese society.Not only are some of the problems of China are considered in this book,but also he researched what changes have taken place in China after western colonial. There are two interrelated themes.First is the functions of the scholar and the gentry in the traditional Chinese society.Second is the relationship between the country and the city.Owing to the special relationship between the country and the city in China, Chinese upper class with specific characteristics was born.But different from the upper class in western who own a large amount of wealth and purse a higher social position,the gentry in China have already had some power.In other words,they always on behalf of a part of local authority. The purpose of Hsiao-tung Fei to write this book is wanting to arouse readers’ responsibility and called them to protect China in that time.