The “moral economy” and “economic rationality” are classic theories to interpret peasants’ farming tendency. They became theoretical basis of discussions about contemporary peasant’s logic in farming performance. This article argues that those theories can be used as analytical tools, but should not be restriction to our understanding of peasants. “Moral economy” or “economic rationality” cannot fully explain the logic that guiding peasants’ agricultural behaviors. Their farming performances are based on fully concern about reference experience. It is the logic of practice which guides peasant’s agricultural behavior. This suggests us that we should pay attention to the comprehensive circumstances which peasants faced with. Thus we can get a better understanding of the contemporary Chinese peasants and also China’s agricultural modernization process.
Reference Experience and Comprehensive Circumstances: An Interpretation to Peasant’s Farming Practice in Dingzhou[J]. Sociological Review of China, 2018, 6(4): 12-25