伝統中国は社会を崩壊させることなくなぜかくも膨大な人口を扶養しえたのか。本論ではA)それはどのような経済であったのか, B)周辺アジアにどのような影響を与えたのか, の二つの論点を提起した。両者は本来不可分の関係にあり, 問いに応えるためには中国を「中国史」ではなく「アジア経済史の枠組み」で検討することが不可欠であることを, 人口・食糧・小農経済, 山地の過開発と環境問題, 周辺地域への人口移動, 対外開放型経済と貨幣制度, 市場とそれを支える秩序などの検討を通じて示した。
How can traditional Chinese economy support a huge population without collapsing society? This article raises two issues : A) identification of the economy type, and B) influences it had on surrounding areas in Asia. In order to respond to the question, it is indispensable that both issues are indivisible. Therefore, it is essential to examine China in the framework of Asia's economic history, not that of Chinese history. We may further understand China by exploring : the population; the food ; its small-scale peasant economy ; over-development, which caused serious environmental problems ; migration of population to surrounding areas in Asia ; an open-door economy and its monetary system ; and the order supporting the market.

会長講演