The Confucian Merchant Tradition in the Late Qing and the Early Republic and Its Contemporary Significance  

近代儒商传统及其当代意义(英文)

作　　者：马敏 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Chinese Modern History,Central China Normal University

出　　处：《Social Sciences in China》2013年第2期165-183,共19页中国社会科学（英文版）

基　　金：support from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Central China Normal University(No:120002040725)

摘　　要：In the late Qing, as the social status of merchants rose, the Ming and Qing phenomenon of combining business with learning became increasingly visible and its ranks expanded. Common characteristics were ＂talking of business but still inclining towards Confucianism,＂ and the lack of a dividing line between ＂business＂ and ＂Confucianism.＂ Among them, Zhang Jian and Jing Yuanshan were the best examples. These late Qing Confucian merchants shared a similar business ethic and formed a new tradition： helping bring Confucianism into business while holding fast to Confucian character ideals; gaining profits through righteousness and seeking shared benefits for all under heaven; cultivating virtuous behavior and conducting business ethically; enthusiastically promoting the public good and dedicating themselves to giving back to society; and establishing schools and educating the talented, pledging themselves to develop education. The late Qing and early Republican tradition of Confucian merchants has an important significance for the contemporary rebuilding of an ethical commercial culture. The question of how we can draw on its best points to construct a commercial morality and spirit of enterprise for this new era urgently needs to be addressed.近代以降,随着商人社会地位的提升,明清以来的儒商合流现象进一步彰显,儒商群体也进一步扩大,其共同特征则是"言商仍向儒","商"、"儒"不分家。其中尤以张謇和经元善最具代表性。近代儒商有其类似的商业伦理观并构成一种新的传统:援儒入商,坚守儒家人格理想;利缘义取,求天下之公利;砥砺品行,以德经商;热心公益,以回馈社会为己任;兴学育才,矢志发展教育。近代儒商传统对当今商业道德文化的重建有着重要的借鉴意义,如何汲取其精华来形塑新时期的商业道德和企业精神,已成为一个十分迫切的课题。

关 键 词：Confucian merchants TRADITION moral rebuilding 

分 类 号：K25[历史地理—历史学] F279.29[历史地理—中国史]