Abstract: The existing researches on contemporary Chinese history and the history of the Chinese Communist Party usually defines the traditional rural society along the border between Jiangxi province and Fujian province (i.e. the former Central Soviet Area) during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China as land ownership being highly concentrated in a small number of landlords and rich farmers; very high rent ratio; land tenancy system being the most cruel feudal exploitation, which seriously hindered the normal development of the rural economy and society. However, when studying The Xunwu Survey written by Mao Zedong and other related historical materials about the area along the border of Jiangxi and Fujian, it can be found that the characteristics of the rural area of Xunwu county, which was regarded as the most typical region of that area at that time by Mao Zedong, are as follows: land ownership was not highly concentrated but in dynamic circulation; rent rate was significantly lower than the rate being generally recognized and was a win-win solution for both parties; land tenancy system was at that time the choosing-best mechanism for allocation of farm production factors; what was generally presented was the combination of the land ownership, the tenancy system and the market, as well as the impetus to be rich for the development of the traditional rural economy and society, which was a driving force for the continuous advancement of the rural economy and society and the quiet transformation into the modern economy and society.

Key words: traditional rural society; land ownership; tenancy; market; impetus to be rich