Jin merchants and Jinzhong society

Author: Yin Junling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book focuses on the central part of Shanxi during the Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, referred to for convenience as "Shanxi Central." The content is divided into the following 10 chapters:
Chapter 1 explores the geographical and social mobility of the population in Shanxi Central, the diversification of local occupations, and reveals the thriving commercial atmosphere of Shanxi Central.
Chapter 2 presents the marital lives of merchants: changes in local marriage circles, variations in marriage ages and characteristics; the sorrows and hardships of merchant wives, their health conditions, extramarital affairs, and the hidden worries of merchants about the lack of sons, constructing a multi-dimensional picture of the marital lives of merchants in past Shanxi Central.
Chapter 3 provides a brief overview of the family business operations, family education, and family assistance of the Shanxi merchants.
Chapter 4 discusses the lives of merchants in the business world, covering the apprenticeship system and etiquette of Shanxi merchants, the study of bookkeeping and arithmetic, behavioral norms, the "market days" () of Shanxi merchants, and issues of integrity, reconstructing the specific scene of merchants' lives in the past business world.
Chapter 5 narrates the rise of certain traditional handicrafts and the flourishing of modern industries in Shanxi Central; reveals the close connection between the people of Shanxi Central and the market, showcasing the prosperity of towns, and outlining the relationship between contracts and daily life.
Chapter 6 recreates the daily lives of the people in Shanxi Central. From the silent expressions of clothing and accessories, the diversity of food, the three-dimensional storytelling of residential gardens, to the prominent display of marriage and funeral rituals, highlighting the actual improvement of the people's lives in Shanxi Central.
Chapter 7 presents the diverse leisure and religious lives of the people in past Shanxi Central. The lively scenes of watching opera and going on excursions, the leisurely charm of raising birds and insects, the obsession with gambling and opium, formed the leisure life of the people in past Shanxi Central, while the practicality of their beliefs also made it a reflection and adornment of their leisure life.
Chapter 8 explores the connection and mutual benefit between Shanxi merchants and the cultural lives of the people in Shanxi Central. In Shanxi Central, when the opera was in full bloom, the rice planting songs were also popular, martial arts enthusiasm spread across cities and towns, and the trend of entertainment was unrestrained, always visible as a boiling scene. The prosperity of commerce gave rise to the rich and varied culture of Shanxi Central, and the two benefited each other, blending seamlessly.
Chapter 9 directly states the actions of Shanxi merchants in public education, social relief, public construction, and social security, discussing the motivations behind their participation in public affairs, and revealing the status and role of Shanxi merchants in the society of Shanxi Central.
Chapter 10 points out that Shanxi merchants failed to seize the opportunity, ultimately leading to the decline of their past glory; after the decline of Shanxi merchants, the prosperous society that nurtured their growth faded away, replaced by decline: sparse shops, depressed markets, declining living standards, and deteriorating health.