Beijing Three Hundred and Sixty Trades

Author: Qi Rushan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Always yearning for his hometown and homeland, endlessly reminiscing about stories and people; his deep affection for his "Beijing" is so profound—why? A volume of Nostalgia offers guidance for your preservation. It includes five books, all focused solely on the "old" aspects of Beijing. Whether it's the grand portrayal of the ancient capital (Beijing), the gentle description of folk customs (Nostalgia for Beijing), or the cherished anecdotes of Beijing (Folklore of Beijing), all are truly beautiful—even the beauty of a waning moon. On Peking Opera and A Study of Beijing's Hundred Performing Arts, however, delve into the search and preservation of the source art; what remains on the pages for today are like keys to door locks, waiting for those who seek passage, and also for those who aspire to excel. It is a work of profound depth among nostalgic writings, and a work of extensive erudition among regional studies. Qi Rushan, in his twilight years, indulged in nostalgia—without documenting it, he felt restless; to record the wind of Beijing, one must remember how it swept across the nation in joy, the wind of China; to record the soil of Beijing, one must remember how it lay piled in heaps, the five-colored soil. Thus, even if one merely wishes to understand a reconstructed Beijing city and a group of authentic Beijing people, this book is worth reading. Moreover, friends come from afar, and Beijing has long been the "capital" where east meets west. Furthermore, Confucius said, "To review the past is to understand the new, and one can become a teacher." Beijing's Three Hundred and Sixty Trades lists over two dozen categories, encompassing seven hundred forty-one trades, categorically describing the old Beijing's industries.
Beijing's industrial sector has long been renowned for its three hundred and sixty trades. When I first heard this phrase, I assumed it was an approximation, not a literal count. Later, while reading the notes of Song Dynasty scholars, I discovered that this saying actually originated in Hangzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty, as there were numerous records of Hangzhou having three hundred and sixty trades. For instance, Tian Rusheng's Notes on Travel mentions, "Three hundred and sixty trades, each with its own market language." Whether this phrase has been passed down from the Song Dynasty to modern Beijing in this form, or if it has evolved—Qi Rushan