Enviar búsqueda
Cargar
The grandeur of qing economy
•
0 recomendaciones
•
826 vistas
V
VALVANE
Seguir
Educación
Empresariales
Tecnología
Denunciar
Compartir
Denunciar
Compartir
1 de 5
Descargar ahora
Descargar para leer sin conexión
Recomendados
Economic progress in the gupta period
Economic progress in the gupta period
Prachya Adhyayan
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
guestecd0c6
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
guestecd0c6
China and the 21st Century, Session Two -- ESADE Business School
China and the 21st Century, Session Two -- ESADE Business School
Luis Torras
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
turtlegeak03
Unit II Review
Unit II Review
Greg Sill
Growth of cities and towns during medieval india
Growth of cities and towns during medieval india
Prabhleen Arora
Midtermunitiiireview14501750
Midtermunitiiireview14501750
ccone
Recomendados
Economic progress in the gupta period
Economic progress in the gupta period
Prachya Adhyayan
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
guestecd0c6
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
guestecd0c6
China and the 21st Century, Session Two -- ESADE Business School
China and the 21st Century, Session Two -- ESADE Business School
Luis Torras
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
turtlegeak03
Unit II Review
Unit II Review
Greg Sill
Growth of cities and towns during medieval india
Growth of cities and towns during medieval india
Prabhleen Arora
Midtermunitiiireview14501750
Midtermunitiiireview14501750
ccone
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Greg Sill
Overivew of chinese history
Overivew of chinese history
YCIS Beijing
Special report china_trade
Special report china_trade
Sergii Kurbatov
Unitiiireview14501750
Unitiiireview14501750
cdonohue
06 History of China 2014
06 History of China 2014
Jose Cedric Perez
CHINA global project
CHINA global project
NSmithLaG
Medieval China
Medieval China
JaydeeW
Ancient China
Ancient China
MicaelaD2
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
A. ABDUL SHUMZ, Kendriya Vidyalaya Kanjikode
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Marks AndStars
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
loganmw
Qin to ming
Qin to ming
treed
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
skorbar7
A Brief History Of China
A Brief History Of China
RoyB
India in the medieval period
India in the medieval period
Girish Arabbi
Travelers
Travelers
Greg Sill
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
idmac2015
Ming and qing
Ming and qing
Middle Township High School
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Mohan Mourya
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
chintu suryavanshi
Chinese empire
Chinese empire
Margarita Manrique
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
danielfoster65629
Más contenido relacionado
La actualidad más candente
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Greg Sill
Overivew of chinese history
Overivew of chinese history
YCIS Beijing
Special report china_trade
Special report china_trade
Sergii Kurbatov
Unitiiireview14501750
Unitiiireview14501750
cdonohue
06 History of China 2014
06 History of China 2014
Jose Cedric Perez
CHINA global project
CHINA global project
NSmithLaG
Medieval China
Medieval China
JaydeeW
Ancient China
Ancient China
MicaelaD2
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
A. ABDUL SHUMZ, Kendriya Vidyalaya Kanjikode
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Marks AndStars
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
loganmw
Qin to ming
Qin to ming
treed
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
skorbar7
A Brief History Of China
A Brief History Of China
RoyB
India in the medieval period
India in the medieval period
Girish Arabbi
Travelers
Travelers
Greg Sill
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
idmac2015
Ming and qing
Ming and qing
Middle Township High School
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Mohan Mourya
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
chintu suryavanshi
La actualidad más candente
(20)
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Tang Song Ghana Mali Review
Overivew of chinese history
Overivew of chinese history
Special report china_trade
Special report china_trade
Unitiiireview14501750
Unitiiireview14501750
06 History of China 2014
06 History of China 2014
CHINA global project
CHINA global project
Medieval China
Medieval China
Ancient China
Ancient China
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
Towns, Traders and Craftspersons, History class 7 cbse
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Cse introductory lecture 2014
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
Mongol Eurasia and its aftermath
Qin to ming
Qin to ming
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
World History Ch. 8 Section 3 Notes
A Brief History Of China
A Brief History Of China
India in the medieval period
India in the medieval period
Travelers
Travelers
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
Azhar Mohamad & Imtiaz Mohammad Sifat
Ming and qing
Ming and qing
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Evolution of entrepreneurship in india
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
Cambridge social science, Class 7 History
Similar a The grandeur of qing economy
Chinese empire
Chinese empire
Margarita Manrique
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
danielfoster65629
China and Japan
China and Japan
bbednars
19.2 china limits european contacts
19.2 china limits european contacts
Edgar Huff
Not Gold
Not Gold
Melanie Erickson
Strayer chapter 7 ppt.
Strayer chapter 7 ppt.
loganmw
04 The Culture of Cities
04 The Culture of Cities
EACT_COEP
Song dynasty advancements
Song dynasty advancements
Claire James
Haier Case Study
Haier Case Study
Gina Alfaro
600 -1450 powerpoint
600 -1450 powerpoint
LawK
Trade Daniel.pptx
Trade Daniel.pptx
AndrewPruett4
The Asia And Islamic Empires In Transition33
The Asia And Islamic Empires In Transition33
Molly Lynde
China limits european contact
China limits european contact
MelvinFederizoPaguns
WHAT ARE GLOBAL COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
WHAT ARE GLOBAL COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
Rauthschild, Chua & Associates, LTD
01
01
Ravi Naid Gorle
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM OF CHINA: DYNASTIES AND CHANGE
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM OF CHINA: DYNASTIES AND CHANGE
George Dumitrache
Asian History Grade 10
Asian History Grade 10
Tsepo Richard Damoense
History presentation khushi 10
History presentation khushi 10
Misindia1
24.5 imperialism in china
24.5 imperialism in china
MrAguiar
The World of the 15th Century Part 2
The World of the 15th Century Part 2
Colleen Skadl
Similar a The grandeur of qing economy
(20)
Chinese empire
Chinese empire
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
Zhao 1Zilu ZhaoECON 463120415Economy and Governance of.docx
China and Japan
China and Japan
19.2 china limits european contacts
19.2 china limits european contacts
Not Gold
Not Gold
Strayer chapter 7 ppt.
Strayer chapter 7 ppt.
04 The Culture of Cities
04 The Culture of Cities
Song dynasty advancements
Song dynasty advancements
Haier Case Study
Haier Case Study
600 -1450 powerpoint
600 -1450 powerpoint
Trade Daniel.pptx
Trade Daniel.pptx
The Asia And Islamic Empires In Transition33
The Asia And Islamic Empires In Transition33
China limits european contact
China limits european contact
WHAT ARE GLOBAL COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
WHAT ARE GLOBAL COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
01
01
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM OF CHINA: DYNASTIES AND CHANGE
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM OF CHINA: DYNASTIES AND CHANGE
Asian History Grade 10
Asian History Grade 10
History presentation khushi 10
History presentation khushi 10
24.5 imperialism in china
24.5 imperialism in china
The World of the 15th Century Part 2
The World of the 15th Century Part 2
Último
IGNOU MSCCFT and PGDCFT Exam Question Pattern: MCFT003 Counselling and Family...
IGNOU MSCCFT and PGDCFT Exam Question Pattern: MCFT003 Counselling and Family...
PsychoTech Services
Ecosystem Interactions Class Discussion Presentation in Blue Green Lined Styl...
Ecosystem Interactions Class Discussion Presentation in Blue Green Lined Styl...
fonyou31
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Celine George
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
Association for Project Management
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
AyushMahapatra5
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
TechSoup
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
EduSkills OECD
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Jayanti Pande
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
nomboosow
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
agholdier
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
christianmathematics
9548086042 for call girls in Indira Nagar with room service
9548086042 for call girls in Indira Nagar with room service
discovermytutordmt
Q4-W6-Restating Informational Text Grade 3
Q4-W6-Restating Informational Text Grade 3
JemimahLaneBuaron
The Most Excellent Way | 1 Corinthians 13
The Most Excellent Way | 1 Corinthians 13
Steve Thomason
Russian Escort Service in Delhi 11k Hotel Foreigner Russian Call Girls in Delhi
Russian Escort Service in Delhi 11k Hotel Foreigner Russian Call Girls in Delhi
kauryashika82
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
iammrhaywood
Mattingly "AI & Prompt Design: Structured Data, Assistants, & RAG"
Mattingly "AI & Prompt Design: Structured Data, Assistants, & RAG"
National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
fourth grading exam for kindergarten in writing
fourth grading exam for kindergarten in writing
TeacherCyreneCayanan
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
GeoBlogs
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
RAM LAL ANAND COLLEGE, DELHI UNIVERSITY.
Último
(20)
IGNOU MSCCFT and PGDCFT Exam Question Pattern: MCFT003 Counselling and Family...
IGNOU MSCCFT and PGDCFT Exam Question Pattern: MCFT003 Counselling and Family...
Ecosystem Interactions Class Discussion Presentation in Blue Green Lined Styl...
Ecosystem Interactions Class Discussion Presentation in Blue Green Lined Styl...
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
Advanced Views - Calendar View in Odoo 17
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
Explore beautiful and ugly buildings. Mathematics helps us create beautiful d...
9548086042 for call girls in Indira Nagar with room service
9548086042 for call girls in Indira Nagar with room service
Q4-W6-Restating Informational Text Grade 3
Q4-W6-Restating Informational Text Grade 3
The Most Excellent Way | 1 Corinthians 13
The Most Excellent Way | 1 Corinthians 13
Russian Escort Service in Delhi 11k Hotel Foreigner Russian Call Girls in Delhi
Russian Escort Service in Delhi 11k Hotel Foreigner Russian Call Girls in Delhi
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
Mattingly "AI & Prompt Design: Structured Data, Assistants, & RAG"
Mattingly "AI & Prompt Design: Structured Data, Assistants, & RAG"
fourth grading exam for kindergarten in writing
fourth grading exam for kindergarten in writing
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
The grandeur of qing economy
1.
Recording the Grandeur
of the Qing: The Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls ASIAN TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors Asia for Educators | Columbia University THE GRANDEUR OF THE QING ECONOMY Madeleine Zelin, Consultant SUBTOPICS MING-QING ECONOMIC DYNAMISM AND FOREIGN TRADE • MING-QING ECONOMIC DYNAMISM AND FOREIGN TRADE At the end of the Ming dynasty, just before the Manchus • CHINA AS A VAST CONTINENTAL MARKET overthrew the Ming and established the Qing dynasty, China's • QING CHINA'S ACTIVE ECONOMY: economy was in a period of expansion. New markets were -- The Farming Economy -- Complex Market Structure being founded, and merchants were extending their businesses across provincial lines and even into the South Interactive (Online Only): Commercial Activity in 18th-century Suzhou China Sea. Chinese merchants were already active in -- Merchant Hierarchy -- Taxes Paid in Money Southeast Asia during this time, and, in fact, one of the -- Bimetallic Currency arguments then made regarding the cessation of China's -- Early Banks state-sponsored maritime expeditions to various places in the Sidebar: Remittance Banks • IMPORTANCE OF TRADE ON GRAND CANAL southern seas (such as the famed "Ming Voyages") was that Map (Online Only): Grand Canal these expeditions were no longer necessary. Chinese • ADDRESSING 3 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE merchants themselves were going out to the South China Sea QING ECONOMY: 1. State Control of Economy and were trading with these areas themselves, so there was no 2. Silver in China and the World Economy longer a need to have a tributary relationship with other states Sidebar: Silver Exchange or city-states in this area. In certain instances the Qing state 3. Creation of the Canton System in 1760 did balk at the movement of people into overseas commerce and tried to limit rice and metallic currency from moving out of the country, but the state simply did not have the capacity to stop trade completely. The circulation of goods went on with or without state approval. [Read more about the Ming Voyages (PDF)] The economic growth so evident under the Ming dynasty continued under the Qing dynasty, up until the time of the Opium War in the 1840s. During this time China’s domestic economy was a dynamic, commercializing economy, and in some small ways, even an industrializing economy. The Stereotype of an "Anti-Merchant" Qing State A common stereotype about late imperial China -- one that is actually perpetuated in the study of practically every period in Chinese history -- is that the Chinese government was anti-merchant. Common reasons given to support this assertion are: that Confucianism was anti-business and anti-merchant; that Confucian scholar-officials were at the top ranks of Chinese society; that state policy impaired economic activity by not supporting it in any constructive way; and that taxes were so heavy that they squeezed the life out of merchants and their businesses. But all these things are untrue. CHINA AS A VAST CONTINENTAL MARKET, IN CONTRAST TO THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE Unlike Europe during this same period, which was composed of many small states, each with its own political system, national boundary, and tax system, Qing China was a vast continental market with no 1 © 2005 Columbia University | Asia for Educators | http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
2.
Recording the Grandeur
of the Qing: The Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls ASIAN TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors Asia for Educators | Columbia University impediments to the movement of goods across provincial boundaries. In analyzing the various institutions that were in place in China at this time, it is important to keep in mind that the structure of China’s large continental empire affected economic development, economic growth, and economic structures. QING CHINA'S ACTIVE ECONOMY, WITH MANY IMPORTANT MARKETS AND MANY COMMODITIES China did not have a single central market during the Qing dynasty (Shanghai, for example, was just a small town until the late 1800s), but it was big enough to have many important markets and goods moving amongst them. Some goods -- particularly specialty items -- moved across great distances. Medicinal herbs from the mountains in West China moved East, where they were used for medicines and salves. Cotton moved from North China to cotton weavers in Central China. Rice moved in much more localized markets because of its bulk and because it was readily available in many places. But where there was a market for a certain product, Chinese merchants were there to create the facility to move the product. Farming Economy with Proliferation of Markets China’s economy during the Qing dynasty was still largely a farming economy. Eighty percent of the population lived in the countryside at the end of the Qing dynasty, and most people had some relationship to farming or to something that was a byproduct of farming. So China at this time does not fit the image of a modern industrial economy. On the other hand, China was a place where, by the late Ming dynasty and into the Qing dynasty, there was a proliferation of markets. Approximately eighty percent of the population lived within a day's journey of a market town and could take some of their produce to the market and become involved in marketing activities. Development of a Complex Market Structure The Qing dynasty saw not only an increase in the number of markets and market towns, but also an evolution in market structures. If marketing is viewed as a hierarchical process, wherein there are some markets that are central and collect the goods from many lower markets in the hierarchy, then China was "filling out" its hierarchy during this period. There were markets that served entire regions, markets under these that served sections of regions, and an increasing number of markets that served the producers. Simultaneously, the markets that were serving the producers were moving from being periodic markets (markets that only met a few days a week, to which farmers could come and bring their produce) to becoming stationary markets that operated every day and had stores that existed all the time, wherein people were working full time as merchants. [ See webpage for Interactive: Commercial Activity in 18th-century Suzhou.] Development of a Merchant Hierarchy The Qing dynasty also saw the development of a merchant hierarchy. There were merchants who worked only within a local marketing community, and also farmers who spent some of their time working as peddlers to bring in extra money. But there were also long-distance merchants, whose economic life blood involved extensive traveling. Even in the early Qing there is evidence of the establishment of guild halls in distant parts of China to represent and serve the interests of merchants from other parts of China who traveled there. As aliens in that particular community (perhaps not speaking the dialect of that region), these traveling merchants would need a place to stay and to meet with other merchants to conduct business. 2 © 2005 Columbia University | Asia for Educators | http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
3.
Recording the Grandeur
of the Qing: The Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls ASIAN TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors Asia for Educators | Columbia University Taxes Paid in Money During the Qing period, all Chinese people had to pay part of their taxes to the government in money (usually copper coins or silver) as opposed to goods-in-kind. This meant that the farmers, especially, had to sell what they produced in order to acquire currency for their taxes. In fact, one could say that the Qing government's tax policy was one of the factors that pushed economic growth in China during this time. Paper Money and Bimetallic Currency Although China was one of the first societies to introduce paper money (around the 11th century), for most of its history before modern times, as well as during the Qing dynasty, China also used bimetallic currency, meaning that both copper and silver were in circulation. Copper coins with an opening cut out in the middle (used to tie several coins together) were used for everyday transactions, and silver was used for larger transactions and for paying taxes to the government. Early Banks and Long-distance Trade China's use of bimetallic currency over a large marketing area created in Remittance Banks turn a big industry in money-changing. By the 18th century, money ("Shanxi Banks") changers were playing many additional roles, including providing credit, Remittance banks were also often particularly within local market communities as well as developing into referred to as "Shanxi banks." This the earliest native Chinese banks. China had a huge market and a large is because merchants from the province of Shanxi in northwest number of commodities that were moving both within local marketing China, which was not itself a very systems and over longer distances. But conducting this kind of business rich province, became bankers to with heavy, metal money became problematic, especially if a merchant the rest of the country. They did this by developing a system from had to carry huge bags of silver on his donkey or by other means. This taking deposits by merchants in would also make the merchant vulnerable to any bandits he might one place and issuing remittance encounter on the road. The remittance bank was developed during this certificates that could be redeemed elsewhere. period to address this problem. The remittance bank would take cash deposits from a merchant in one place and issue him a remittance certificate, which the merchant could then take elsewhere to pay someone with whom he was doing business. That person could in turn go to a bank in his area and exchange the certificate for coins. By the 18th century there was a vast network of such banks, and they were extremely important to the development of commercial activity in China. IMPORTANCE OF THE GRAND CANAL IN TRADE WITHIN CHINA To a certain extent, the Qing state itself facilitated the movement of goods to market by locating Beijing, its capital, far to the north, away from the rich and prosperous rice growing areas of Southern China. This resulted in a natural market for the demand of goods in the North, if for no other reason than to feed the imperial household and court. This was one of the reasons why it was so important to keep the Grand Canal working. The Grand Canal was a major conduit for grain, salt, and other important commodities. Any taxes that were paid in kind were paid in grain, which was shipped along the Grand Canal. Thus, control of the Grand Canal was of critical importance to the Qing government. 3 © 2005 Columbia University | Asia for Educators | http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
4.
Recording the Grandeur
of the Qing: The Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls ASIAN TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors Asia for Educators | Columbia University ADDRESSING THREE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE QING ECONOMY 1. STATE CONTROL OF THE ECONOMY A major misconception about the relationship between the Chinese state and the economy is that the state controlled economic activities with a heavy hand. But if one really looks at the size of the Chinese bureaucracy and the size of China throughout its history, whether in terms of the size of the territory or the size of the population, one can see that no Chinese state could have controlled economic activity completely. More importantly, as early as the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, the state made the decision to withdraw from control of the economy, and thereafter the Chinese state was no longer determining where a market could or could not be established. The Qing, a Laissez-Faire State? In practice the Chinese state under the Qing took a relatively laissez-faire approach to the economy, and the state did not regulate trade. Indeed, the Chinese legal system, which was one of the most advanced and sophisticated legal systems in the world during this time, left the regulation of private matters largely to the people directly engaged in the economic exchange. With certain exceptions, the state set out specific parameters for economic activity, but it was mainly within the local economic communities, within the guilds and elsewhere, that Chinese customary law for the handling of economic affairs was emerging. The emerging rules, regulations, and customs of this time suited the needs of the people who were engaged in commerce. An Exception: The State Monopoly on the Salt Trade To a large extent the Qing state concerned itself only with the movement of a small number of goods that were seen as essential for life and were also a good source of revenue for state coffers. The most important of these was salt. But the state did not regulate how salt was manufactured; it only required a license for the transport of salt. Licensing for the transport of salt was an important source of the revenue for the Qing state. Hereditary Occupations By the Ming dynasty, the Chinese state had stopped trying to control what occupations people could have. This contrasts with Japan where, until the late 1800s, people were born into a hereditary status or occupational group and were expected to do what their fathers did. By the beginning of the Qing dynasty, the only truly hereditary occupation in China was the military, and most of the people involved in this system were attached to the ethnically Manchu military structures rather than to the ethnically Han Chinese military. 2. SILVER IN CHINA AND THE WORLD ECONOMY Those who would argue that China was not involved in the world economy by the Qing period have only to look at some of the consequences of China's use of currency -- both copper and silver. China under the Qing had an enormous unmet demand for silver. As the economy grew, the populace needed silver for transactions in the marketplace. As early as the 1720s, Mexican silver dollars were used in transactions in Southern China. Mexican silver had the advantage of already being in coin form and being reliable for its weight in silver, so that one did not have to go to a money changer to have him weigh the silver and take a 4 © 2005 Columbia University | Asia for Educators | http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
5.
Recording the Grandeur
of the Qing: The Southern Inspection Tour Scrolls ASIAN TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY of the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors Asia for Educators | Columbia University fee for attaching a certificate. The Chinese government did not mint silver coins, so throughout this period people were using minted and raw silver coming into the country through the Philippines and other areas that were points of trade in the Southern China region. Western European nations during this time had very few commodities other than silver to sell to China in exchange for the tea, porcelain, and silk that were being imported to meet their own growing demand. Indeed, this inflow of silver from the West is one reason for the rapid expansion of China's economy during the 18th century. Read more about the story of silver in China at the website CHINA AND EUROPE: 1500-2000 AND BEYOND 3. CREATION OF THE "CANTON SYSTEM" IN 1760 The notion that the Chinese government feared foreign traders and did not want foreign traders on its shores is a major misconception. Although foreign trade was not a dominant source of revenue for the imperial household, it was taxed at a number of ports along the Chinese coast and was an important source of revenue for the central government. It was not until the 1760s that China really began to limit foreign trade to the single port of Canton, and there is much speculation about why this happened. Some scholars have related this to Chinese awareness of the activities of the British East India Company in India in the 1750s, when Britain was effectively colonizing India, and the Chinese government's fear of similar foreign encroachment on its own soil. Other scholars see the creation of the single port of call for European ships at Canton as being a mutual decision, because, in fact, Canton was the only port that really could provide the kind of facilities that foreign traders needed. Canton had a sufficient number of merchants, sufficient capital to be able to bring goods from the interior in sufficient amounts to make it worthwhile for foreigners to come all the way from England to China. The trip from England to China during this time was indeed very long, and ships only came once a year. The merchants bought everything they could to fill up the ships and soon set sail again. 5 © 2005 Columbia University | Asia for Educators | http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
Descargar ahora