The Flowing Medium:A Study of Ming and Qing Merchants and the Dissemination of Confucian Culture
In the Ming and Qing dynasties,the merchant class played a significant role in disseminating the Confucian culture.Historical records indicate that these merchants not only engaged in charitable practice and valued interactions with scholars but also upheld principles of filial piety,respect for parents,and integrity in their daily lives and business dealings.These practices not only brought them economic benefits but also garnered them respect and goodwill from the people.Both the government and scholars attributed the behavior and success of merchants to the influence of the Confucian culture,continuously promoting their deeds through commendations and written works.The improved social status and reputation of the Ming and Qing merchants indirectly suggest that by embracing the Confucian culture and adhering to the Confucian ethical norms,they would gain recognition from the state and scholars,thus allowing the pub-lic to witness the tangible benefits of adopting mainstream values.Research findings suggest that the Ming and Qing merchants effectively disseminated the Confucian culture by practicing the Confucian ethical norms based on their own experience.Serving as conduits for dissemination,these merchants not only inherited the Confucian culture but also ef-fectively propagated it,expanding the channels of its dissemination and broadening its influence,which contributed to the formation and development of a collective consciousness among the Chinese nation.
the Ming and Qing dynastiesmerchantthe Confucian cultureethical norms
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
