Ash Merchant

Author: Cao Jianwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The first major reflection on China's merchant class, a highly anticipated classic in the Chinese business world in 2005. Due to its direct confrontation with the highly sensitive "original sin" issue of China's merchant class, this book may cause silence in the business community or trigger a new round of debates in academia. The book holds four key values:
1. A Mirror of History: The economic progress driven by China's merchant class. Its foundation is rooted in a grand 60-year history, serving as a of merchant history and a framework of economic history, covering the period from the Republican era in 1943 to the contemporary China of rapid economic development in 2003. Many pivotal historical turning points in the economy are subtly embedded as backgrounds in the work, yet the focus remains on reflecting on the "gray" aspects.
2. The Original Sin of the Merchant Class: An exploration and reflection on the decades-long phenomenon of "gray merchants." Although most private companies have completed their initial accumulation, numerous wealthy merchants have also fallen due to original sin issues, along with a large number of corrupt officials. In the long list, many are obscure figures: Mou Zhongji, Yang Bin, Yang Rong, Zhou Zhengyi, Zhang Hai, Huang Hongsheng, Zheng Junhuai, Tang Yuannian, Lai Changxing, Zhang Enzhao, Chen Jiulin, Wang Xuebing, Zhu Xiaohua, Wang Huizhong, Cheng Kejie, Mu Suixin. A vast number of Chinese private tycoons have walked the path of "gray merchants" and ultimately perished on it, involving equally numerous corrupt officials who were also brought down. In fact, acknowledging the issue of merchant original sin and the subsequent actions taken by the government reflect its attitude, strength, and the hope of building a transparent business society today and in the future.
3. Merchant Civilization: The Dao, Fa, Shu, and Li of China's business world and business civilization, as reflected throughout the book. The stories are filled with the principles of doing business, handling affairs, being a person, and contributing to society, as well as the unique wisdom of Chinese business civilization. The book is sprinkled with brilliant insights that are beneficial to those in business, such as:
- The way of business must follow the path of politics, and the path of politics must follow the path of the world.
- Balance is the foundation of all business.
- It is better to lose a matter than to lose the heart.
- Great business can change everything.
- Great speculation is first heaven's will, then human will.
- If destined to be a merchant, always be prepared to accept the fate of being defeated by greed.
- Starting a business depends on courage, maintaining a business depends on wisdom, and passing on a business depends on the heart—hence, the bigger the heart, the bigger the business.
- Earning money requires skill, spending money requires wisdom.
- In the world of business, there are no personal problems, only collective ones.
- Business is a war between risk and caution.
- Business is mostly about turning resources into cash, and high profits stem from great changes.
- Desire drives business, change drives business.
- "Giving face" and "recognizing tact" are the basic principles of business relationships.
- Therefore, many in the business community believe that "Gray Merchants" is not only a novel but also a business guide, and a unique, practical "Merchant Art of War."
4. News-Style Literature: A long-form work that blends news and literature. The entire work follows a unique main thread—the news event thread—where significant and influential news events in Chinese business over the past few decades are subtly interwoven and skillfully combined, without appearing forced. The book depicts the three generations of a merchant family, starting with a business rivalry between the ancestors and weaving in and out of family and external relationships, and ending with a business rivalry among the grandchildren.