The Formation of New Kind of Associations in a Chinese City Suzhou after the Sixteenth Century
Resource
建築與城鄉學報, 5, 083-096
Journal
建築與城鄉學報
Journal Issue
5
Pages
083-096
Date Issued
1990-02
Date
1990-02
Author(s)
Chiu, P.S.
Abstract
This article tries to elucidate the nature and strategy of the formation of new associations in a Chinese City Sozhou after the sixteenth century There are many kinds of associations consist of merchants or artisans in Chinese history, albeit "Hang" and "Hui Kuan" (or "Kung so") are two major kinds among them This article does not propose a dichotmy, but being to explicate the distinctions did exist in the two major associations Namely, the compulsory associations of "Hang" and the voluntary associations of "Hui Kuan" (or "Kung-so") It is not a short run process of tranisition from the compulsory to the voluntary ones, the sixteenth century seeming the timing overshed Market economy had made progress since the sixteenth century in China, Suzhou having become then one of the most prosperous cities until the late nineteenth century. During that period the transition did occur in this affluent city, a kind of new associations never existing before in Chinese cities was emerging Clarifying the distinct nature and resting strategy that those new associations had made and adopted in Suzhou is the theme of this.
Subjects
明清時代
蘇州城
工商業組織
會館（公所）
Type
journal article