History
At the center of historical change in urban China over the period we are examining is the evolving relationship between scholar-officials and merchants. How did that relationship change between Ming and high Qing in the Suzhou area?
The Ming
The Ming dynasty was an empire of the Great Ming .Ming dynasty was the China’s ruling dynasty for almost 276 years. This was after the end of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming was one of the most supreme eras of orderly government hence it was a social stability during the history of man. The Ming was also the last dynasty during the Chinese rule by the ethnic Han Chinese. The Ming capital thus Beijing, fell in during the year 1644 to a rival rebellion group, led by the Li Zicheng. Despite its fall, its remnants and power still managed to survive until the year 1662. During this period, the Civil service and a centralized government, characterized by its strong connections, was established during this period. This period was commercial in nature in that, several trades and naval explorations took place. Generally, Li Zicheng established the Shun Dynasty but was replaced by Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, which was a regime that was faithful to the Ming throne. The collective name of the Ming throne was the Southern Ming. It was characterized by its survival back in 1662 (Zhou, 59).
Generally, the Ming dynasty was the final ethnic group led by Han in China. The dynasty supplanted the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. This was before its falling to the Qing Dynasty, led by the Manchu. The Ming dynasty took control of the Great Ming Empire or rather the Dà Míng Guó, which was the common name of China. Towards the closing stages of the Ming dynasty, Macao, which was the first European colony, was founded in the year 1557. During the Ming dynasty, there was various developments that characterized this period (Zhou, 96). Some of the developments that took place during this period were the construction of the vast navy, which included four-mastered ships that had a standing army of several troops. Other developments included the production of over 100,000 iron tons and several books which were printed by the use of a movable type.
The Qing Dynasty was characterized by the Han ethnic group’s strong feelings towards the non-Han ethnic group’s rule. On the same note, the Ming dynasty restoration was viewed as a positive aspect because it was used to rally the dynasty’s cry until the new era. Towards the dynasty’s final stages, the emperors were generally retired from power, the public life, and their eunuchs (Zhou, 107).
High Qing
The Qing dynasty is a Great Qing’s empire, which was the last Chinese imperial dynasty. The dynasty took place between ‘1644 to 1912’ with a short abortive restoration during the year 1917. The Ming Dynasty then led the dynasty. After the Ming Dynasty, the China republic then took over the dynasty. Jurchen Aisin Gioro was the founder of te dynasty in the contemporary Northeastern China. Nurhachi who was the Aisin Gioro leader, was initially Ming emperor’s vassal. The leader began uniting the Jurchen clans during the late sixteenth century. During the year 1635, Hong Taiji who was Nurhachi’s son stated that they have united the Manchu people hence; he began to use power to force out the Ming people out of Liaoning in the Southern parts of Manchuria. During the tear 1644,Beijing which was the Ming capital was sacked. Li Zicheng who was an Ex Ming minor official that became the peasant revolt leader spearheaded the sacking. Li Zicheng later took over the Shun dynasty (Schmalz, 68).
Scholar-officials and merchants relationship between Ming and high Qing
The Scholar-officials were basically the civil servants who were appointed by the Chinese emperor to execute the daily supremacy from the Sui Dynasty. This lasted until the end of the Imperial dynasty thus the Qing Dynasty, in 1912. Most of the scholar officials had good educational backgrounds referred to as the scholar-gentry. The scholar officials had academic degrees which they attained by the rigorous imperial examinations (Schmalz, 48). Before the Manchus conquered the Ming people and created the Qing dynasty, the economic state of China was in an expansion state. The merchants were expounding their business activities across the South China Sea. The Chinese merchants were businesspersons who traded goods that were produced by others. The relationship between the two groups was soured during the taxation processes. The scholar officials imposed heavy taxes to the merchant’s businesses hence created some rift between the groups (Schmalz, 107).
One of the things scholars seek to do is to move the conversation forward. Pomeranz has argued for basic equivalence between the Yangzi Delta and the most developed parts of Europe circa 1750; others have challenged that notion. Evaluate these claims in light of the available scholarship.
According to Kenneth Pomeranz, there was a great divergence between the development and the evolution of both Europe and china in the 1800. Europe and China were compared with the basis of the material wealth and population history. According to statistics, it was noted that Europe before 1800 was underdeveloped while china was less involuted. According to Pomeranz case, England was the most developed part of Europe and the Yangzi delta area was advanced in China. There was a noted divergence after 1800, due to minimal availability of coal resources for England, and other raw materials for the New World. This is a surprising idea as majority of the people radically received wisdom through arguments that were considered appealing. These findings appeared to be based on a sound question that asked the Eurocentric about the reason as to why china did not develop like china. The enlighten modernity of china was based on their economy. According to Chinese researchers, it was stated that the pre-modern china would be in a position that was equivalent to Europe. This was termed as a nationalistic sentiment that the Chinese scholars failed in while developing their attributes to the comparison of the European propensity. This was founded on methodological strength that dealt with contingencies instead of the modernized construction aimed for the European development. China was highly intimidated by the European forces due to the problems they encountered in their countries. According to findings by Pomeranz Europe had a weakness of the evidence that viewed china to be a weak country.
SIX RECORDS from the perspective of Chen Yun
The six records from the Chen Yun perspective included the Wedded Bliss, the Joys of Travel, The way of Life, the Little Pleasures of Life and Experience. Out of the six records, only four survived. The Wedded Bliss there is the sorrow to beauty aspect. Chen Yun was characterized by her beautiful nature but her perception of beauty was the nature. Chen Yun takes embroidering and painting as a requirement for poem composition regarding life (Shen, 98). Shen Fu views her as somebody close who is free with and can share with her what is happening in her life. The orthodox community does not accept these ideas. The Little Pleasures of Life describes the leisure time actions of Shen Fu: Here, his childhood joys to his life as an adult are revealed. His nature of composing poems together with other scholars is also revealed. Shen Fu tends to be closer to natural things during his childhood. He takes great interest in nature.
During his adulthood, Shen rarely thinks about nature but he crazy about worldly possessions. In sorrows records, Shen Fu reveals that most parts of his life and the frustrations he faces in life is due to his commitments to words and uprightness. Most parts of this chapter deals with Chen Yun bumpy life. Her bumpy life is because of her character. The Joy of Travel depicts the beautiful scenic spots, which the author visited. It also indicates the records anecdotes, historical allusions and local customs. This record is different from other records in that the author believes that getting experience is important than what other people are saying (Shen, 108).
The world of a high Qing petty urbanite like Shen Fu with that of white-collar workers in early twentieth century Shanghai
Shen Fu was remembered for his records of floating life and his life memoir. Shen Fu arranged his life memories the-matically. Shen Fu tends to be closer to natural things during his childhood. He takes great interest in nature. During his adulthood, Shen rarely thinks about nature but he crazy about worldly possessions. Shen Fu reveals that most parts of his life and the frustrations he faces in life results from his commitments to words and uprightness. Alternatively, the white-collar workers were the individuals with good educational backgrounds and worked in the offices. Most of the white-collar workers had better life compared to the merchants. There were various similarities between the white-collar workers and Shen Fu in terms of their ways of life and their world. Most of Shen ideas were about worldly possessions (Shen, 124). His life had been changing during his time as a young person to his adulthood. Like the white collars workers, their world was full of fun and pleasure. They also focused on their white-collar jobs. Their ideas similarly matched in some aspects.
In what ways was early twentieth century Shanghai a continuation of the indigenous Chinese urban tradition? In what ways did it depart from that tradition? On balance, were divergences or continuities more significant?
Industrialization in China’s shanghai city is believed to have started back in the seventieth centaury. At that time it was however not that significant since the country was at a beginning rate in terms of industrialization. The people of china were trying to feet in with the state of living among themselves with a new mode of making a living. Beginning of the twentieth century, the Chinese nation witnessed a considerable though uneven distribution of the established industries within the nation (Laing p. 2). This was dreadful to the people of china since they had a new alternative of making a living and raising money for personal upkeep.
Industrialization in shanghai between this period faced high opposition and limited room for expansion because of political influence. The trend in politics limited room for economic expansion thus stopping or other slowing down the Chinese urban tradition. The rate of urbanization now was at a slow pace therefore, putting the continuation of China’s urban tradition at a standstill. Shanghai at this time experienced political volatility and state degeneration (Laing p. 2). The political institution and instability at this time was on a basis of statute of law, secure property civil liberties, and outlet of communal goods. Shanghai relied on hinterland in the effectiveness of industrialization to ensure that the country experienced a stable gradual growth in terms of the economic stability.
The state of China dwelled Yangzi province, which depicted up to approximately sixty four percent of income per capita to the overall state income. After the growth of industries around the first three decades in the twentieth century, China recorded a magnitude of intensification in addition to structural revolutionize in comparison to the neighboring countries such as Japan with the colonies of east Asia. The steady growth of Shanghai is notable majorly in the early twentieth century with an impressive establishment of several industries that guaranteed the states rate of employment (Laing p. 13). This assisted the state of China in dealing with a number of issues.
To what degree is contemporary Shanghai a lineal descendant of early twentieth century Shanghai? In what key ways does it differ? On balance, are the continuities or the divergences more important?
The present day Shanghai relies greatly on the recent day Shanghai since its establishment correlates. In the beginning of the twentieth century, shanghai underwent numerous challenges that if not properly looked into then chances are it would have collapsed in the present day. The degree of challenges that Shanghai went through facilitate the strength in term of urban tradition through establishment of infrastructure and industries (Laing p. 3). The establishment of the industries during Shanghai’s growth session marked the soaring of better economic position in future
Despite the challenges of the distribution of the industries in the beginning of the twentieth century, Shanghai managed to stabilize and survive the challenges during the establishment session. There was uneven distribution of industries during that period that had various effects on the continuity of urbanization (Laing p. 3). The Chinese state handled severe moments of torment and frustration from the political field that used to affect the growth of the country at that time. Today, Shanghai is where it is in terms of economic stability due to the efforts and commitments that the city-state was in a position to persevere. Failure to maintain a stable ground then Shanghai continuity would be irrelevant or less important.
Work Cited
Shen, Fu, Leonard Pratt, and Suhui Jiang. Six Records of a Floating Life. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1983. Print
Schmalz, Norbert, and Boniface Pfeilschifter. Shen-fu’s Story. , 1965. Print.
Zhou, Yingxiong. The Chinese Text: Studies in Comparative Literature. Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1986. Print.
Laing, E. J. (2004). Selling happiness: Calendar posters and visual culture in early twentieth-century Shanghai. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.
