Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2010, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 178-204.

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Devaluing the “Instrumental” Approach: Formation and Practice of a “New Concept on Health”: Village Li in Shaoxing
 
 

 Yao Zelin   

  1. Department of Sociology The University of Hong Kong
  • Online:2010-01-20 Published:2010-01-20

Abstract:

There has been little research in China’s academia on medicine, diseases, and health from the perspective of medical sociology. Based on the data from a village located in the Yangzi River Delta Region, this research attempted to discuss the change in the villagers’ views on health from preliberation to date. By describing and comparing the old and new concept on health, this paper focuses on the contents of the change and the drive behind the change. The villagers have increasingly attached a high value to health and devalued the instrumental approach. The economic development and raised living standards brought about by modernization are the most important drive for the formation of the new concept on health, whereas the state has played only a tiny role. The paper concludes that views on health can serve as an angle to look at modernization as well as a new window through which statepeasant relationships can be studied.