Merchant and Modern Chinese Society

Author: Tang Likeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: This book edition won the Jiangsu Provincial First Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences and the First Prize for Outstanding Political Theory Books in East China. As a comprehensive monograph on modern Chinese merchants, the limitations of this book are self-evident. Since ancient times, the elite have been "the last among the four classes"; even in the realm of emotions, merchants became the fixed stereotype of "focusing on profit over sentiment." In reality, the merchant class was the most advanced social force in Chinese society after the 16th century. Their business activities shook the foundations of traditional society and propelled its slow transformation.
The activities of merchants span every corner of society. This book examines the unique role of merchants in China's modern transformation era from the broad perspective of their interaction with modern society. The author meticulously analyzes and elaborates on various aspects, including the formation of the modern merchant class, their regional distribution, distinctive business operations and methods, the social life and mentality of merchants, their relationship with urban culture, the changes in urban socio-economics, and the evolution of modern merchants themselves. It highlights the specific position of merchants under China's unique social structure.