Through the history of rickshaw pullers in Hong Kong and Canton, Reluctant Heroes provides a rich portrait of the urban milieu and life in two contrasting yet interrelated cities in South China. Fung Chi Ming explains the dynamics between the rickshaw pullers'participation in collective action and the intervention of the British colonial and Chinese authorities, and traces the pullers'emergence and eclipse as a political force. Reluctant Heroes is a fascinating study of rickshaw pullers in Hong Kong and Canton. The author reconstructs the daily lives and social environments of rickshaw pullers, the majority of whom were emigrants who differed in the loyalties of dialect, place of origin and kinship. Low- skilled yet partially self-employed, rickshaw pullers relied on entrepreneurial flair, in addition to physical stamina, to tout for fares, thus bridging the culture of petty traders and physical laborers. In the volatile urban environment, they were subjected not just to patron-client problems, but also the directives and regulations of the state, and to interventions of the police, and the British colonial and Chinese authorities. Rickshaw pullers struggled with their adversities and became a political force to be reckoned with. Fung argues that they are “reluctant heroes,” since their collective outbursts were authentic protests against encroachments on their livelihood. They were spurred into collective actions that were at times cheered by the public, or embroiled in city politics, thus suffering great losses in political storms, when they would have preferred to lead quiet, anonymous lives. Set against the backdrop of two contrasting yet interrelated cities in South China, Reluctant Heroes brings a richer understanding of urban living through a comparative study of the historic pattern of adaptation in the urban workplace, the powers of the state, and the repertoire of mass activism.

Reluctant Heroes: Richshaw Pullers in Hong Kong And Canton, 1874-1954 (Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Studies Series)

Reluctant Heroes: Rickshaw Pullers in Hong Kong and Canton, 1874-1954 (Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong studies series)

Reluctant Heroes: Rickshaw Pullers In Hong Kong And Canton, 1874-1954 Project Muse Upcc Books

Reluctant heroes rickshaw pullers in Hong Kong and Canton, 1874 - 1954

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Chi Ming Fung

Hong Kong University Press, HKU

Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong studies series, Hong Kong, [London, ©2005

Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, 2005

Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong

December 30, 2005

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Through the history of rickshaw pullers in Hong Kong and Canton, Reluctant Heroes provides a rich portrait of the urban milieu and life in two contrasting yet interrelated cities in South China. Fung Chi Ming explains the dynamics between the rickshaw pullers participation in collective action and the intervention of the British colonial and Chinese authorities, and traces the pullers emergence and eclipse as a political force. Reluctant Heroes is a fascinating study of rickshaw pullers in Hong Kong and Canton. The author reconstructs the daily lives and social environments of rickshaw pullers, the majority of whom were emigrants who differed in the loyalties of dialect, place of origin and kinship. Low- skilled yet partially self-employed, rickshaw pullers relied on entrepreneurial flair, in addition to physical stamina, to tout for fares, thus bridging the culture of petty traders and physical laborers. In the volatile urban environment, they were subjected not just to patron-client problems, but also the directives and regulations of the state, and to interventions of the police, and the British colonial and Chinese authorities. Rickshaw pullers struggled with their adversities and became a political force to be reckoned with. Fung argues that they are reluctant heroes, since their collective outbursts were authentic protests against encroachments on their livelihood. They were spurred into collective actions that were at times cheered by the public, or embroiled in city politics, thus suffering great losses in political storms, when they would have preferred to lead quiet, anonymous lives. Set against the backdrop of two contrasting yet interrelated cities in South China, Reluctant Heroes brings a richer understanding of urban living through a comparative study of the historic pattern of adaptation in the urban workplace, the powers of the state, and the repertoire of mass activism.

Reluctant Heroes Is A Study Of Rickshaw Pullers In Hong Kong And Canton. The Author Reconstructs The Daily Lives And Social Environments Of Rickshaw Pullers, The Majority Of Whom Were Emigrants Who Differed In The Loyalties Of Dialect, Place Of Origin And Kinship. Low Skilled Yet Partially Self-employed, Rickshaw Pullers Relied On Entrepreneurial Flair, In Addition To Physical Stamina, To Tout For Fares, Thus Bridging The Culture Of Petty Traders And Physical Laborers. In The Volatile Urban Environment, They Were Subjected Not Just To Patron-client Problems, But Also The Directives And Regulations Of The State, And Interventions Of The Police, And The British Colonial And Chinese Authorities. Set Against The Backdrop Of Two Contrasting Yet Interrelated Cities In South China, Reluctant Heroes Brings A Richer Understanding Of Urban Living Through A Comparative Study Of The Historic Pattern Of Adaptation In The Urban Workplace, The Powers Of The State, And The Repertoire Of Mass Activism.--book Jacket. Pt.i.: Across The Colonial Matrix. -- A City Of Sojourners And Transients -- The Urban Workplace And Street Politics -- British Rule And Chinese Valiancy, Up To 1926 -- Pt.ii.: Republican Canton, 1911-38. -- Evolution Of A New Civic Paradigm -- Partisan Politics And The 1927 Insurrection -- Reforms On The Municipal Agenda In The 1930s -- Pt.iii.: Within A Fast-changing Context. -- Growing Passion For Change, Up To 1941 -- Surviving In The Pacific War, 1937-45 -- Rise To The Postwar Zenith Of Activism -- Establishing A New Agenda, Up To The 1950s. Chi Ming Fung. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.