During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, there were wealthy businessmen in Nanxun, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, represented by "four elephants, eight cows and seventy-two dogs". The so-called "four elephants, eight cows and seventy-two dogs" are all well-funded, self-employed or have close relatives. Those whose property is more than one million are called' elephants'. More than 500,000 and less than 1 million are called cows, and more than 200,000 and less than 500,000 are called dogs. The so-called "elephant", "cow" and "dog" all symbolize the size of silk merchants' property by their size. "
The specific representative figures are summarized as follows:
(1) Guangxu's Four Elephants. 19 In the 1930s, a folk song "Liu's money, Zhang's talent, Pang's face, home" was circulated in Nanxun, which profoundly revealed the commercial characteristics and family culture of the four elephants.
1, Liu Yong. This man is the head of the "Four Elephants", and it is said that his Fu You are all rich, with more than 20 million pieces of silver.
After Liu Yong made his fortune, he deeply felt that since his ancestors, he lacked culture, had money and no money, and did not come to the door. So he tried his best to teach children to read and let them take the imperial examination.
Liu Yong's four sons all became officials, so Liu Yong was appointed as a doctor, and finally achieved his goal of ancestor worship.
Officials and businessmen have always been attracted to each other and have always been together. Liu Yong is no exception, yipin university student Chui Fu and big bureaucrat Jiang are in-laws. The reason why Jiang Ruzao, the general secretary of the Qing Dynasty, was such a powerful son-in-law was mainly due to the consideration of the glorious family and the Fan Yan family. This abacus made the Liu family a rich and powerful family in Nanxun.
2. Zhang Songxian (18 17- 1892) was born in Xiuning, Huizhou, and his father Zhang Yuewei opened a small sauce and salt shop in Nanxun to make a living. Zhang has two sons, Zhang Song is the second.
Zhang Songxian was good at business. After engaging in the silk industry, he fully managed the export business of Gigi Lai silk and established the "Silk Rolling Company". After he made a fortune in the silk business, he focused on salt affairs and became a salt giant. According to Zhang Jian's "Zhangfeng Cemetery in Wucheng", "At the beginning of Tongzhi, private businessmen were full, which led to the lack of classes and poor salt method. The governor called merchants to gather for discussion, praised the sages and even made an appointment with merchants to collect the private interests of Daishan in Yuyao and reduce the price to hide the private interests of the enemies of the river and the sea. As a result, the business interests are rich, the official class is full, and the family is getting bigger and bigger. " Zhang Songxian also runs Fiona Fang Wuli Sauce Garden around Nanxun Town, such as Zhang Hengtai, Zhang Hengchang, Zhang Yuanchun, Zhang Qitai and Zhang Yilong, all of which are relatively large-scale sauce gardens.
Zhang Songxian also bought land, opened a pawn, a money house and a transportation company. It is said that his wealth is second only to the Liu family, ranking second among the four elephants.
Zhang Songxian has two sons, the eldest son, Zhang Baoqing, who is upright in character; The second son, Zhang Baoshan, is blessed by the word.
Zhang Junheng, whose real name is Shi Ming, is the only son of Zhang Baoqing and the grandson of Zhang Songxian. Because his father died early and his mother handled all the affairs of Nanhenghe at that time, he named the house "Tang Yide". Zhang Junheng was a juren in the 20th year of Guangxu (1894). After he inherited his ancestral business, his business and industry flourished. He showed filial piety to his mother, and built a Buddhist temple in his magnificent garden "Teachers College" for her to worship the jade Buddha, so that she could burn incense and worship the Buddha, and also built a stone tower to seal up the Diamond Sutra written by Liu Gongquan in the Tang Dynasty. The park was completely destroyed in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Now the mansion in Zhang Shiming has become one of the tourist attractions in Nanxun, and is known as "the largest mansion in the south of the Yangtze River". The mansion covers an area of 4,792 square meters, with 150 buildings combining Chinese and western styles, especially the wood carvings, brick carvings and stone carvings in the mansion, which are exquisite in craftsmanship and have high cultural relics value.
The most famous Zhang family is a revolutionary in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Zhang Jingjiang, whose real name is Ceng Cheng, also known as Ren Jie, whose real name is Jingjiang, whose real name is Drink Guang and whose real name is Fierce Zen, is the son of Zhang Baoshan, the second son of Zhang Songxian, ranking second, so people in the town call him Mr. Er.
Zhang Jingjiang joined the League led by Sun Yat-sen in his early years and donated money for the revolution. Dr. Sun Yat-sen once said: "Since the founding of the League, there have been articles on fundraising abroad, and so has Zhang Jingjiang, which made the greatest contribution at that time. But the store in Paris earned 60,000 to 70,000 yuan to help. " Zhang Jingjiang was a member of the Standing Committee of the National Government, elected as the chairman of the Central Political Conference of the Kuomintang, and served as the chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Government. He is one of the four elders of the Kuomintang.
Because Zhang Songxian's two grandchildren are very famous in academic and political circles, they are called "Zhang Jiacai" in the Four Elephants.
3. Yunzheng Pang (1833- 1889) was born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. My father is a master in Shaoxing, and Pang Yun is an apprentice in the silk industry. He even knew the way of silk management, so he made a fortune and established "Pang Yitai Silk Company". When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom came to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it was the time when he got to know Hu, the owner of Huqingyutang Chinese Medicine Shop in Hangzhou, who was called "Red Top Merchant" and joined hands in silk business. The two men got together to plan, but they found an opportunity to do arms business in troubled times, transporting and providing all kinds of materials and equipment needed in wartime for the then governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They bought arms for merchants in Xiangyang, emerging landlords in Hunan and Huaihe, and Li Hongzhang, and made huge profits from Zhongmou.
Therefore, Yunzheng Pang is not in officialdom, but he is in officialdom. His son Pang Yuanji was awarded the title of "Pang Family Face" among the Four Elephants in the 17th year of Guangxu (189 1), and he was also specially rewarded, inviting one product to be named, Jingtang and other four products, and giving Dr. Rong Lu the title of "Doctor Guanglu".
Pang Yun once imitated Hu Qingyutang in Hu Xueyan, opened a large-scale "Pangzide" pharmacy in Nanxun, and built a pharmacy stack and pharmaceutical workshop. Until now, the old-fashioned "Pangzide" pharmacy is still open in Baoshan Street, Nanxun.
Pang Yun had three sons, the eldest son Pang, who died young. The second son Pang Yuanji and the third son Pang Yuancheng.
Pang Yuanji, alias Chen Lai, was a Jinshi in the sixth year of Guangxu (1880) and a Jinshi in Jiangxi. Pang Yuanji followed in his father's footsteps. In addition to operating Pangzide Pharmacy and Qingyitai Sauce Garden, he also founded a silk weaving factory and a cotton mill, and also engaged in real estate. He built the largest garden "Yiyuan" in Nanxun Dongzha, which is superior to other gardens in greening. It was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War, and now it's gone. In addition to running an industry, Pang Yuanji is especially good at painting and appreciating ancient paintings. He is a famous connoisseur and collector of ancient paintings at home and abroad. Before liberation, China ancient paintings and calligraphy could be regarded as authentic as long as they were stamped with Pang Xuzhai's appraisal seal, and even foreign collectors were willing to pay a lot of money to buy them.
Pang Yuancheng, formerly known as Chen Qing, was later renamed Qingcheng, with the name of Yuan Confucianism. Guangxu twenty-one years (1895), Jinshi. He devoted himself to education, founded hospitals and advocated western medicine. In the thirty-second year of Guangxu (1906), he donated money in Shanghai to support Ma's establishment of Fuhe Public School (19 17), protesting imperialist interference in China's education, and Qingcheng was renamed Fuhe Public School.
Pang Yuancheng is also a member of the League led by Sun Yat-sen and one of the core figures of the Shanghai branch of the League.
4. Gu Fuchang (1796- 1868), nicknamed Chunchi, is one of the four elephants of Nanxun, a foreign student in China. After starting a business, he was called Gu Liugong. Gu Fuchang's family was poor in his early years, so he dropped out of school and went to sea to do business. At first, he set up a cloth stall. Later, Su Zhenze, a neighbor of Nanxun Zhenjiang, made a living by opening a small cloth shop and made a fortune in silk business. After interacting with foreigners, he became an early silk expert and westernization manager in Shanghai. And opened the ancient silk number, which is the earliest silk merchant in Nanxun.
After becoming rich from silk, Gu Fuchang also managed the only foreign ship terminal in Shanghai at that time-Jinli Source Head, became the manager of Jardine Comprador and Jardine Packaging Company, and was also engaged in real estate business, and was known as the "maiden" of the Four Elephants.
Gu Fuchang has three sons, the eldest son Gu Shousong, whose name is Rongzhai; The second son, Gu Shouzang, has a good handwriting; The third son, Gu Mingshou, praised three words. They are all famous collectors of antiques, epigraphy and calligraphy and painting. Gu's three brothers inherited their father's business, dealing in silk. Gu Shoujian is the most prestigious. He used to be the director of Shanghai Silk Industry Office, and Mr. Gu, a famous patriotic educator, is the great-grandson of Gu Fuchang.
Xing Gengxing, the head of Nanxun Eight Cattle, opened Xing Zhengmao Silk Sutra, which was later renamed Hengshun Silk Sutra. And set up pawn shops, setting up the most pawn shops for Nanxun. In addition, there are Xingjia pawnshops in Haining, Taicang, Shanghai, Haiyan and Pinghu. And real estate or something.
The famous poet Zhou Changda has a happy word. Born in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, he moved to Xunzhong during the Qianlong period and set up Shentaisi and Shenchangsi. People in the town call his family Zhou Shentai, one of the eight cows in Nanxun.
The deep autumn fairy tea opened the Silk Book of Qicheng. One of the eight cows in Nanxun.
Formerly known as Xiong, the word Zhuping. It is a well-known Si Shitong, and the peripheral Yuchangji Jingxing. Yingyuan is a tourist attraction in Nanxun and one of the eight small gardens in Nanxun.
Golden boy, the word bamboo court. Dropped out of school at an early age, started doing business in Shanghai and became a successful businessman. His eldest son, Jin Shouyi, whose name is Qinyuan, inherited his father's business, managed silk, started Jinjiaji silk business and opened a pawnshop.
Manage real estate, etc. , known as "Xiaojinshan", is one of the eight cows in Nanxun.
Zhang, who founded Thai Silk Company, was the director of the business department of Shanghai Commercial Bank. One of the eight cows in Nanxun.
Mei Hongji, the word Yue Tea. Yuheng Silk was founded in Beijing and Hangzhou, and his son Mei Zhanzhong opened the earliest machine-made silk factory in Nanxun, which is one of the eight cows in Nanxun.
Shao, Kaisenda silk warp, has Shao Yueji silk number in Shanghai, producing Qingshi brand silk warp. The town called him Shao Senda, one of the eight cows in Nanxun.
There are 72 dogs in Nanxun, including four townships in Nanxun. There are Qiu Maotai, Qiu Gaimao, Qiu Yichang, Qiu Desheng, Shen Tuji, Shen Yongchang, Shen Yongfeng, Shen Tianchang, Li Hengde, Li Wanshun, Li Demao, Wu Jinchang, Wu Qichang, Wu Yongji, Zhu Guanglong, Zhuang Hengqing, Xing, Bu Tongchang, Han Yichang, Gui and Li Demao. There are four towns and villages: Zhangjia in Beixiaowei, Zhangjia on the fifth floor, Jinjia in Xieqiao, Tingsheng, Qiujia in Masonry, Wenjia in Qili Village, Chenjia in Zisiwan and Wangjia in Cangguqiao.
Because the saying of "four elephants and eight cows" belonged to gossip at that time, what we got was hearsay, and there was no formal statistics and detailed records, so the 72-pier dog could only be mentioned briefly.
The theory of "Four Elephants and Eight Cattle" reflects that Nanxun has been a town since it was founded in the Spring of Southern Song Dynasty (1252), from the names of Xunxi and Lin Nan to the establishment of town officials. After the town was named Nanxun, it became a prosperous town in the south of the Yangtze River, and merchants gathered, leaving a library, Xiaolianzhuang and Zhangzhai for future generations.
Second, the origin and rise and fall of "Lake Merchants"
Huzhou is located in the center of the Yangtze River Delta, adjacent to Taihu Lake, adjacent to Hangzhou, Huizhou, Suzhou and Jiaxing, and adjacent to the Grand Canal of Shanghai, Nanjing, Ningbo and Wenzhou. It is connected with the east and west by a river network, and the ancient traffic is very convenient. The territory is rich in civilization, ancient paleolithic culture and Neolithic culture, and it is the earliest birthplace of sericulture and silk culture so far. "Since ancient times, Xing Wu has been a good place since the Eastern Jin Dynasty ... its people are satisfied with the benefits of fish, rice and lotus". [3] In the Tang Dynasty, "Xing Wu" was a big county on the river surface, and its tribute, orange, pomelo, essence and tea were born of heroic spirit, connected by mountains and rivers, and produced by materials and soil. Although rich, it is better than Chu Yue "[4]. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Huzhou was the granary of southeast Austria. "As the saying goes, Suzhou Lake is ripe and the world is full" [5], and it has also become an important silk producing area. From the Yuan Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, "If my lake belongs to Sara, Linghu, Shi Lian, Wucheng Wuzhen and Nanxun, there are thousands of people with a vast territory and few people, and there are tens of thousands of people, that is, Zhongzhou counties are not spared" [6]. Where Huzhou is a small town, it can be an enemy of a county or even a government in the Central Plains. This is all because Huzhou is good at people's diligence, the land is only partial, and there are fewer soldiers and fewer fires. Huzhou in history basically preserved a paradise in troubled times such as the end of Han Dynasty, the end of Tang Dynasty, the beginning of Song Dynasty, the end of Southern Song Dynasty and the end of Yuan Dynasty. Not only the local settlement is prosperous, but also scholars and businessmen from all over the country have come to settle down, making Huzhou a "four-way peddler, a metropolis" [7] and a county and town. For example, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, there was a war in the north. "There are many reasons in Jiangnan, but Xing Wu has never been attacked by soldiers. Many people avoided the chaos. As the saying goes, let your life go, let your life go, and let Huzhou be the people. "[9] is evident. Local economy drives business, and the prosperity of business promotes the development of local economy. This is very obvious in ancient Huzhou. Therefore, Xu recorded in Xing Wu Tales of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty: "Xing Wu is located between Suzhou and Hangzhou, with fertile land and water, which actually surpasses two counties. "It's not too much to remember. Wang Shixing said: "The lake is the first of the eleven counties in Zhejiang, and merchants can sail to all provinces easily if they build a home in the lake. There is a silkworm in the lake, and there are two autumns every year", [10] tells the truth.
The origin of "Lake Merchants" can be traced back to the Song Dynasty at the latest. This is due to the characteristics of Huzhou's regional economy itself, that is, both fields and silkworms are developed simultaneously. Sericulture production in Huzhou began to be specialized in the Song Dynasty. For example, "Huzhou Village is full of Zhu Buddha, and sericulture will become an industry next year" [11]; "sericulture is the age of the county, and hundreds of rich people raise silkworms, and they also weave by machine" [12] and so on. According to Chen Fang's "Agricultural Book", folk "only native silkworms do things" ... Each foil (silkworm) gets 12 Jin of cocoon, one-third of silk is taken from each Jin, and a small silk is woven every five or two. Each silk is easy to hit four with one stone, and so is the silk rice. As Tan wrote in Jia Tai's Wu Xingzhi: "Although the silk of the lake is all over the world, none of the people in the lake can be generous!" This situation just shows that in addition to supply, the rest of the lake silk and lake silk have been put into operation. Among the merchants recorded in Jane Yizhi by Hong Mai in Song Dynasty, there is a record that Chen Xiaoba, a native of Huzhou, brought silks to Wenyu to sell merchants. In the same book, it is also recorded that "Six Scholars of Wu Xing entered the capital (Lin 'an) for a provincial trial, and * * * bought one hundred pieces of yarn, and one servant paid for it" [13]. Chen Xiaoba's "Selling Silk" and Xing Wu Scholar's "Buy 100 Pieces of Yarn" were naturally bought in Huzhou Silk Market, showing the prevalence of silk trading. For example, "Lin Nan (Nanxun) is the land of Pingjiang and Jiaxing, where business travel gathers and land and water go hand in hand" [14], and its "the wealth of agriculture and mulberry belongs to Zhejiang ... the wealth of merchants is extracted by Jia Zhi" [15]; Lindong, the hometown of Sara, has become a whirlwind ... This city is home to textiles, and Lindong Ring and Puguang Bridge are both cities in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and Shisi Village is located in the east of Puguang Bridge. Changxing [16], "The local residents are gentle and gentle, living by industry and commerce" [17]; The silk market in Huzhou, the county seat, is even more "merchants gather" and "boats gather day and night" [18].
Later, the silk export of lake merchants was replaced by Japan because of backward technology.
1948 or so, housing prices in Shanghai skyrocketed. At that time, the government stipulated that rents should not go up. The descendants of Hushang merchants collect 1 tenant rent every month and can only buy 1 kg of soy sauce.
Second, the commercial activities of "Lake Merchants" and their regional characteristics
Thirdly, the business philosophy of "Lake Merchants" and its Confucian merchants phenomenon.