Abstract:
Among the hottest topics for the research of modern Sichuan economic history, the exploration of social and legal values of the book of
A Centennial Contract Collections of Longquanyi,
Chengdu (1754—1949) are high on the agenda. With 288 contracts selected from the book, this article analyzes their main contents, and points out their social and legal values. It can be concluded that these archives, in terms of social values, can regulate, like folk rules, the social relations, and promote social development; while in terms of legal values, these documents can improve people's moral standards, settle disputes among individuals, and make up for the deficiency of the national law.