The economic life of cultural people

Author: Chen Mingyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: In the 1920s and 1930s, it was quite common for scholars to buy a siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) to live in. Lu Xun purchased two siheyuans in 1919 and 1924—one large and one small. The larger one cost 3,500 yuan, and the smaller one cost 1,000 yuan. Lu Xun's annual income in 1919 was 3,600 yuan. If he had lived frugally, he could have afforded to buy a siheyuan. In 1924, the Ministry of Education under the Republic of China owed him a salary, leaving him with only 2,600 yuan, but buying a small siheyuan was still a casual affair.
The economic lives of cultural figures in the Republic of China have long been overlooked by scholars. In reality, a person's financial situation determines their social interactions and lifestyle. An independent economic life ensures the autonomy of a cultural figure's personality and thought. For years, Chen Mingyuan has dedicated himself to uncovering historical materials, finally opening a window for us to see the true living conditions of different cultural groups. Their income, daily expenses, hobbies, and other seemingly ordinary details are indispensable for understanding the history of Chinese culture, thought, and economy since modern times. Without a certain level of financial security, even our nation's most outstanding cultural figures would struggle to fully unleash their creativity and talent.
This book includes topics such as:
- The Economic Lives of Cultural Figures: Origins
- The Starting Point of Enlightenment: Late Qing Modernization Schools
- Commercial Press and Cultural Figures
- The Beijing Cultural Circle Before and After the May Fourth Movement
- Living Expenses and Actual Income During the War of Resistance Against Japan, etc.