Farmers of Forty Centuries

Farmers of Forty Centuries: Or Permanent Agriculture in China Korea and Japan by F.H. King is a pioneering work that explores traditional agricultural practices in East Asia. Written in the early 20th century King an agricultural expert travels through China Korea and Japan observing and documenting the ancient farming methods that have been used for over four thousand years. The book focuses on the sustainability of these techniques particularly the way they have enabled farmers to maintain high productivity despite challenges such as soil depletion and limited resources.King highlights the remarkable consistency and resilience of these farming practices which contrast sharply with Western agricultural methods of the time. He examines how the farmers of these countries have developed ingenious systems of crop rotation composting and water management to preserve and enrich their land over centuries. The book offers insights into the environmental and economic factors that shaped these agricultural traditions and it serves as a valuable resource for understanding the relationship between people and the land in East Asia emphasizing sustainability and long-term planning in agriculture.