The historical reconfiguring of communities in Ningbo, 1844–1936

This paper re-examines the concept of ‘community’, first theorized within a European medieval tradition, by situating it in the modern Chinese context of Yin County (Ningbo). It highlights how kinship ties and spiritual beliefs shaped urban space, with large, enclosed family plots fostering social cohesion while also isolating families from broader society. With the advent of modernization, driven by economic developments and the integration of foreign administrative practices, communities transformed along with a reduction in family sizes, the emergence of smaller, more accessible plots, and the disintegration of spiritual communities. The study argues that the evolution from extended family living arrangements to nuclear family units, combined with the municipalization of urban management, encapsulates broader social and governance transitions, leading to the restructuring of communities in modern China. This historical process is crucial for understanding contemporary urban challenges, underscoring the necessity of fostering integrated communities that enhance social cohesion and encourage citizen participation in urban development.