Hui merchant

Author: Yang Xiaomin / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-31
Features: "To know the aura of gold and silver, one must frequent the yellow and white markets; in life's most passionate pursuit, there are no dreams of Huizhou." The Huizhou merchants, as a glimpse of modern civilization in the feudal empire, flickered into existence and then vanished in an instant. This book, richly illustrated, introduces the Confucian merchants of Huizhou, the "red-capped merchant" Hu Xuyan, the salt trade, ancient architecture, the rise and fall of Huizhou merchants, humanities education, and folk music and singing arts. From this book, you can not only learn about the business strategies that made the Huizhou merchant group successful but also discover the unique ancient architecture and customs left behind from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Huizhou merchants were the most outstanding merchant group during the Ming and Qing periods in China. With immense material wealth, they shaped the commercial character of the towns in the Jiangnan region during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Huizhou merchants were unique, embodying a cultural consciousness that blended commerce and Confucianism, setting them apart from other merchant groups. They were also the only ones who rarely transformed commercial capital into exquisite cultural creations, and the independent Huizhou culture continues to thrive to this day. Relying on the protection of feudal political power, their tragic fate was inevitable. "To know the aura of gold and silver, one must frequent the yellow and white markets; in life's most passionate pursuit, there are no dreams of Huizhou." The Huizhou merchants, as a glimpse of modern civilization in the feudal empire, flickered into existence and then vanished in an instant. This book, richly illustrated, introduces the Confucian merchants of Huizhou, the "red-capped merchant" Hu Xuyan, the salt trade, ancient architecture, the rise and fall of Huizhou merchants, humanities education, and folk music and singing arts. From this book, you can not only learn about the business strategies that made the Huizhou merchant group successful but also discover the unique ancient architecture and customs left behind from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Huizhou merchants were the most outstanding merchant group during the Ming and Qing periods in China. With immense material wealth, they shaped the commercial character of the towns in the Jiangnan region during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Huizhou merchants were unique, embodying a cultural consciousness that blended commerce and Confucianism, setting them apart from other merchant groups. They were also the only ones who rarely transformed commercial capital into exquisite cultural creations, and the independent Huizhou culture continues to thrive to this day. Relying on the protection of feudal political power, their tragic fate was inevitable.
The Old River Street is located in the southern part of Yangzhou, adjacent to the Grand Canal. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was an area where Huizhou merchants concentrated their residence and trade. The Wang Family Residence in Salt Street was home to the Huizhou merchant Wang Lumen. While Wang Lumen's business was not as prosperous as that of Jiang Chun and others—who were merchants' leaders and "sacrificial priests of salt"—his residence was one of the most well-preserved on Old River Street. "Bazongmen" reminds us of the " of Bazhouzu" in Yuliang Street, She County, where the Bazongmen in Yangzhou also engaged in the salt trade. However, his younger brother, Bazhouzu, was a master of New An seal carving. Nearby is "Yinshi Street," whose name directly indicates that the trade of salt licenses from the Two Huai regions took place here. Though narrow, the street was involved in the grand business of dominating the national salt market. From the mid-Ming Dynasty to the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty, the salt merchants of the Two Huai regions were predominantly Huizhou merchants. It was precisely for this reason that Chen Qubing wrote in "Wushi Zhi" that "Huizhou merchants arrived in Yangzhou the earliest. Examining their timeline, it should be the mid-Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the prosperity of Yangzhou was indeed brought about by Huizhou merchants, and Yangzhou can be considered a colony of Huizhou merchants." Yangzhou is beautiful—especially the Xiang Bridge. Green willows stretch three feet under the rain, cherry blossoms burst red with a single night's breeze. Everywhere are fragrant boats! The Xiang Bridge spans over the. It was originally a wooden bridge built by the Ming people. Because its railings were red, it was called "Hong Bridge." In the mid-Qing Dynasty, the wooden bridge was rebuilt into a stone bridge, resembling a rainbow resting on the waves, and was then renamed "Xiang Bridge." The builder of the Xiang Bridge was Huang Lüangang. The "Yangzhou Huafang Lu" records: "The Huang family originated from Tandu, She County, Huizhou, and resided in Yangzhou. They had four brothers who made their fortune in the salt trade, earning them the nickname 'Four Yuanbao.'" These "Four Yuanbao" were Huang Lüsheng, Huang Lüxi, Huang Lüling, and Huang Lüangang. When the Huang family's "Four Yuanbao" were engaged in the salt trade and business in Yangzhou, they coincided with the southern tours of Emperor Qianlong. As the most closely connected monopoly industry with the government, salt merchants always spared no effort during the emperor's southern tours, competing to build gardens to win the emperor's favor. One of the Huang family's "Four Yuanbao," Huang Lüxi, had a garden called "Four Bridges Misty Rain," which was later renamed "Qiyuan" by Emperor Qianlong after his visit. Huang Lüsheng's family had "Yiyuan," and Huang Lüangang's family had "Biye Garden." In the 18th year of the Daoguang reign, Jin Anqing personally witnessed the prosperity of Yangzhou's gardens and recorded in "Shui Chuang Chun Yi": "The prosperity of Yangzhou's gardens surpasses all others in the world. Due to the six southern tours of Emperor Qianlong, the salt merchants exhausted their resources to please the emperor, with buildings stretching from the northern gate straight to Pingshan, covering dozens of miles on both banks, with no repetition in sight." P091-P093