【主题】The Status of Merchants in State-Merchant Relations and Four Occupation Classification in Ming China: Economic Thought and Economic History
【报告人】华腾达（博士，法兰克福大学）
【时间】11月21日（星期四）15：30-17：00
【地点】经济学院楼701室
【语言】英文
【摘要】The status of merchants can be considered as one of the essential cutting points to explain the divergence of Chinese and European paths in the modern history. Since the author of Guanzi put forward the well-known theory of Four Occupation Classification, the status of merchants in ancient China has been relatively low, compared with the high status of merchants in Western Europe, especially after middle age. I investigate whether this situation remains the same in Ming China from the perspectives of history of economic thought, combined with economic history. According to my research, on the one hand, the merchants’ subordinate status in state-merchant relation is shown in the evolution of Chinese economic thought and their role in the state monopoly, taking the salt trade in Ming China as an example. On the other hand, their relative status compared with scholars and peasants took a favourable turn, although not fundamentally, due to some specific social and commercial changes in Ming China. Finally, some brief extensions are made.
【报告人】华腾达（博士，法兰克福大学）
【时间】11月21日（星期四）15：30-17：00
【地点】经济学院楼701室
【语言】英文
【摘要】The status of merchants can be considered as one of the essential cutting points to explain the divergence of Chinese and European paths in the modern history. Since the author of Guanzi put forward the well-known theory of Four Occupation Classification, the status of merchants in ancient China has been relatively low, compared with the high status of merchants in Western Europe, especially after middle age. I investigate whether this situation remains the same in Ming China from the perspectives of history of economic thought, combined with economic history. According to my research, on the one hand, the merchants’ subordinate status in state-merchant relation is shown in the evolution of Chinese economic thought and their role in the state monopoly, taking the salt trade in Ming China as an example. On the other hand, their relative status compared with scholars and peasants took a favourable turn, although not fundamentally, due to some specific social and commercial changes in Ming China. Finally, some brief extensions are made.
