In this simple speech I gave recently at Wealth and Society Annual Gala Dinner 2021, I outlined some of the places I had visited in China in the past one year that gave me a glimpse of the relationship between the state and society in Chinese history.
1. The Han dynasty granaries in the Hexi corridor (河西走廊) ensured stability of food supply and commodity prices.
2. the empress Wu Ze Tian (武则天) in Luoyang Engendered social mobility for both men and women 1500 years ago.
3. the Wang 王家大院 and Qiao 乔家大院 family courtyards in Shanxi. China is able to draw on a lot of history when it explores themes like “common prosperity” today.
