Fei Xiaotong, China's most distinguished sociologist, distilled insights from decades of fieldwork into this slim volume explaining the fundamental characteristics of Chinese society. Writing in 1947, Fei analyzed how Chinese social organization differs from Western patterns, tracing differences to the contrasting logics of agricultural and commercial civilizations. Chinese society, Fei argues, is organized around 'differential mode of association'--relationships radiating outward from the self in concentric circles of decreasing obligation, unlike the Western model of bounded groups with equal membership. This structure explains phenomena from nepotism to the absence of public spirit that Western observers often misunderstand as moral failure rather than alternative logic. Fei wrote accessibly for Chinese readers, combining sociological precision with vivid examples from village life. The book became a classic, influencing generations of scholars seeking to understand China on its own terms rather than as deviation from Western norms. Fei's career was interrupted by Mao's persecution of intellectuals; he was silenced for decades before being rehabilitated. This translation makes his foundational work available to English readers, providing essential background for understanding Chinese society past and present. The book demonstrates how serious social science emerges from intimate knowledge of particular places.