Let’s chat about the top ten wealthy businessmen in Chinese history

Let’s talk about the top ten wealthy businessmen in Chinese history

There is a saying: No official is corrupt, no businessman is corrupt. evil. It seems that businessmen are inherently treacherous. This understanding is deeply ingrained in Chinese cultural values ??bred from the traditional agricultural economy. In theory, pursuing profits and maximizing wealth is the instinct and professional mission of businessmen. This should be understandable. However, reality is more cruel than theory. The origin of the term "businessman" is the best example:

After King Wu defeated Zhou and destroyed the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the old and young of the Shang Dynasty lost their former glory, and were stipulated by the new rulers that they could only engage in business that was considered the most despicable by people at the time. Because most of them were survivors of the Shang Dynasty, they were called merchants.

So there is also a saying: businessmen are guilty of original sin, because they get something for nothing, are treacherous and greedy, regard wealth as life, and are unkind... It seems that all the unsavory words in the language are applied to them. For excessive. Is this really the case? Let’s take a look at the top ten business tycoons in Chinese history to see what the truth is.

First: "Shang Sage" Tao Zhugong, a politician, counselor and industrialist in the late Spring and Autumn Period. That is to say, Fan Li, who assisted King Gou Jian of Yue to destroy Wu, can be called the originator of abandoning politics and pursuing business in history and a model of creating a record of personal wealth. "Historical Records" records that "three golds were made in nineteen years, and a fortune of tens of millions was accumulated." He became extremely rich in business three times and lost his wealth three times. The world praised him as: "Loyalty to the country; wisdom to protect one's life; business to get rich and become famous all over the world." He was praised as the first of "China's top ten richest people".

Fan Liju helped King Gou Jian of Yue to destroy Wu without being attached to the throne. With his profound understanding of human nature, he realized that Gou Jian was not the same as rich and powerful, so he left with his crown and successfully avoided the danger of death. After starting business, he became "three rich and three scattered" and established the sales theory of "get the rich and get the cheap", which shows his superb political and business skills. After starting a business in Tao County and becoming rich, he was able to generously donate money to help the local poor, which shows his high moral character. Another of his personal achievements is the much-talked-about "Learning Xi Shi and Touring Taihu Lake". As a poor man, he must be extremely lucky to have a quarter of the top of the Chinese beauty pyramid. It is said that he is also a handsome man.

There are not many "sages" in Chinese history. The fact that he was later called a "Shang Sage" shows that his remarkable achievements and high prestige are well deserved in terms of his moral character and ability. Many businessmen in later generations enshrined his statue and called him the God of Wealth. With both the word "god" and "holy", no one can compare with him.

Second: "The ancestor of Chinese Confucian businessmen" Zigong, Confucius's disciple, politician, diplomat, and the richest man among the three thousand disciples, "Historical Records." "The Biography of the Value of Goods" records that he "wasted money between Cao and Lu". At his own expense, he traveled around various countries in high carriages and horses, talking about Qi, Cun Lu, Ba Yue, and the subjugation of Wu, and became the prime minister of Lu and Wei. Confucianism was later carried forward and spread for hundreds of generations, and its contribution was very great. According to legend, Confucius did not rush back when he was critically ill. Zigong felt sorry for his teacher. Others guarded the tomb for three years and left. He stayed at the tomb for another three years.

Successfully using his business wealth to support his political and educational ideals, many people even only remember his identity as a Confucian. Zigong can be regarded as the number one businessman who respects teachers and values ??education. He is not only rich in wealth, but also knowledgeable and moral, and has reached another peak in morality and ability. His achievements in Confucianism and business have made today's arty wealthy businessmen look up to them and ask for their names after donating a teaching building. He is the real "Confucian businessman".

Third: Bai Gui, the "Ancestor of Shang", was born in the early Warring States Period and was the earliest master of business theory. He served as a minister under King Hui of Wei and was good at building dams and water conservancy projects. He also believed that doing business should be done according to the timing, just like Sun Tzu Wu Qi used troops and Shang Yang practiced law. Li Kui once asked him for advice on the secret of getting rich. "When others abandon me, I take it; when others take it, I take it." This is his original business saying. "Historical Records" recommends him as "the ancestor of the world's governance".

He may be China's earliest economist, and he was able to put theory into practice, and as Minister of Finance and Commerce, he laid a solid economic foundation for Wei's hegemony in the early Warring States Period, and also for later The reforms in various countries provided important ideological and practical preparations. I have yet to see anyone in modern times who can achieve both good results in business practice and business theory.

Fourth: Lu Buwei, a great businessman in Yangdi during the Warring States Period, and later the prime minister of Qin, a statesman, and a thinker. It is recorded in the history that "everyone is selling cheap and selling expensive, and the family is rich in gold".

Later, because of what later generations called the investment with the highest rate of return (getting to know and helping the exiled Qin prince win a stranger and help him return to the country to ascend the throne, the idiom "a rare thing can live in" comes from this.), he served as the prime minister of Qin for thirteen years, thus successfully realizing his personal goals. A historic change from business to politics, and made a significant contribution to the Qin Dynasty's annexation of six countries. Unfortunately, he was forced to drink poison and commit suicide by Qin Shihuang Ying Zheng (suspected to be his biological son). The "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" compiled by him brought together various schools of thought in the pre-Qin Dynasty, "including Confucianism and Mohism, combined with law", so it was called "Miscellaneous School" in history. On the day the book was completed, it was hung at the gate of the country, and anyone who claimed to be able to change a single word would be rewarded with a thousand gold coins. This is the origin of "a word of gold".

Today, when investment forms such as stocks and futures are highly developed, there are many investment experts and experts, but who can achieve "investment to build a country"? Calling Lu Buwei the best investor in history should be justified. Moreover, how can his political achievements, governance concepts, and philosophical thoughts be matched by the likes of Buffett and Soros?

Fifth: Shen Wansan, "the richest person in the country", was a wealthy man from the south of the Yangtze River in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. The source of wealth is said to be from maritime trade. He once helped Zhu Yuanzhang build the city of Nanjing and personally contracted for one-third of the project cost. His grandson was involved in the Lan Yu case and was exiled to Yunnan, and his property was confiscated.

He can be regarded as the earliest import and export trader in Chinese history and the largest and most successful real estate developer. His greatest achievement may also be the largest real estate project to date - "Building Nanjing City" that will make many of our current developers coveted and ashamed. However, building a city is somewhat of a public benefit and can be considered a contribution. If spectators travel to Nanjing, they can also discover the relics he left behind. If they go to Zhouzhuang, they can also visit his "mansion".

Sixth: Wu Bingjian, the leader of the Thirteen Yihe Tours in Guangdong during the Qing Dynasty. He quickly became rich by trading with the British East India Company. In 1834, he claimed to have assets of 26 million yuan. Western scholars called him "the largest commercial asset in the world and the richest man in the world." He alone shouldered 1 million of the 3 million yuan of foreign debt stipulated in the Treaty of Nanjing.

He can be said to be the number one person in China's international trade. The status of his company is no less than that of "General Electric" today. If there had been a Forbes rich list at that time, he would have been the richest man in the world. What is commendable is that he was able to stand up and fight for the national disaster on his own. He can be regarded as a patriotic businessman.

Seventh: "Red Top Businessman" Hu Xueyan, an outstanding representative of "Huizhou Businessmen" in modern times. Because of his friendship with Zuo Zongtang, he took advantage of the opportunity of co-organizing the Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau and the Lanzhou Manufacturing Bureau to become extremely rich by organizing the Hunan Army's military supplies business, with a maximum capital of more than 20 million. Those who reached the rank of "chief envoy" from the second-grade official rank were known as red-top businessmen. They were later squeezed out and bankrupted by foreign businessmen. Hu Qingyutang founded a well-known enterprise for him.

He is the idol of contemporary Chinese businessmen. It is said that "in politics, one should learn from Zeng Guofan, and in business, one should learn from Hu Xueyan" because of the charm of his character. Later, he fully assisted Zuo Zongtang in regaining Xinjiang and made outstanding contributions to the country and the nation. Assuming that China needed to build an aircraft carrier at that time, I believe he would also contribute.

Eighth: "King of Money" Wang Chi, the only poinsettia businessman in China's feudal society, one of the famous giants in the late Qing Dynasty, founded "Tongqingfeng" and reorganized "Tianshunxiang", rich It can be an enemy country. The British "Times" once counted the richest people in the world over the past century. He ranked fourth and was the only Chinese on the list.

People only know Hu Xueyan, but they don’t know that he is a red-top businessman in the true sense. In addition to business, his contribution to funding the Sino-French war and philanthropy is even more eye-catching.

Ninth: "Chinese Business Father" Sheng Xuanhuai: A representative of official businessmen and Westernizationists in the late Qing Dynasty, a famous politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist, known as the "Father of Chinese Industry". It is in charge of the national telegraph business and undertakes industries such as Hanyang Iron Works and Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. He created 11 "China's firsts": the first civilian joint-stock enterprise steamship investment company; the first telegraph office; the first inland river steamboat company; the first bank; the first railway trunk line Beijing-Hankou Railway; The first steel conglomerate Hanyeping Company; the first university Beiyang University (Tianjin University); the first Normal School Nanyang Public School (Jiaotong University); the first mining company; the first public building** *Library; founded the Red Cross Society of China. He is enthusiastic about public welfare and actively provides disaster relief.

If the above-mentioned businessmen are still local tyrants, Sheng Xuanhuai is a modern wealthy businessman in the true sense. And when it comes to the far-reaching Westernization Movement, this person cannot be avoided. The first university diploma in China displayed at Tianjin University (Beiyang University) where I studied was signed by Sheng Xuanhuai. As China's modern business father, he is a milestone in China's modernization process.

Tenth: "The Number One Businessman", Zhang Jian. The number one scholar in the late Qing Dynasty, an industrialist, politician and educator in modern China. He founded the Dasheng Cotton Mill and the Reclamation and Animal Husbandry Company to become rich, established education, and advocated constitutionalism. He was an early pioneer in the field of cotton textiles in China. Efforts to develop the practice of modern textile industry have made important contributions to the development and growth of China's national textile industry.

As we all know, the leading industry in the British Industrial Revolution was textiles. Then Zhang Jian's career was the leader in China's modern industrialization. Moreover, his establishment of education can be regarded as giving back to the society.

The top ten richest people in Chinese history are listed one by one like a treasure. We can take stock of them. According to the following chronological table, we may find some regular things worth learning from.

Ranking? Name? Title? Official position? Industry? Achievements and contributions

1 Fan Li? Shang Sage? Advisor? Trade? Restoration of the country of Yue, charity

2 Zigong? Li Gong? Prime Minister of Lu and Wei? Education

3 Bai Gui? Shang Zu? Minister? Business Theory? Finance, Water Conservancy

4 Lu Buwei, Prime Minister? Investment "Lu's "Spring and Autumn" Qin's hegemony

5 Shen Wansan trades, real estate builds Nanjing city

6 Wu Bingjian? The world's richest man? International trade? Repaying foreign debt

7 Hu Xueyan? Red Roof Businessman? Second-rank chief envoy? Manufacturing and military industry to regain Xinjiang

8 Wang Chi? Qian Wang first-rank trade charity, military expenditure

9 ?Sheng Xuanhuai? Chinese merchant father? Second-rank minister? Industrial Westernization, Charity

10 ?Zhang Jian? Number One Scholar? Businessman? Number One Scholar in Textile Education

Official and business background.

These ten people all have official backgrounds to varying degrees, eight of them have official titles, and five of them are senior officials themselves. According to the larger historical environment, this is understandable. After all, in traditional agricultural societies, low-status businessmen would have difficulty surviving if they did not rely on the power of the government, let alone achieve great achievements. Therefore, the concept of being an official while doing business is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese Confucian culture.

The exception is that Fan Li, Sheng Xuanhuai, and Zhang Jian are different from others in that they were officials first and then businessmen. This is due to their special historical background. The Spring and Autumn Period and the Late Qing Dynasty were both unstable times under great social changes, and businessmen could develop freely without the system. Throughout history, from the perspective of official positions, there was a process of debureaucratization: the official positions and powers of businessmen gradually weakened. It was not until the Westernization Movement, a state-led economic revolution, that Sheng Xuanhuai emerged.

Fault.

The above chronological list only lacks the Han, Tang and Song dynasties when China was most powerful. These three dynasties were all ruled by strong governments dominated by a developed agricultural economy. The living space for merchants was narrow, and it is not surprising that no great merchants appeared. Therefore, no one can live in a vacuum, and the same applies to businessmen. They need certain historical, political, legal, and institutional conditions as environmental conditions. As a leader of an enterprise, how to find space for survival and development in a specific environment requires a certain amount of skill.

The emergence of wealthy businessmen in large numbers after the Ming Dynasty, especially during the Westernization Movement, was inevitable when the commodity economy developed to a certain stage, and was also a direct result of the Westernization Movement strongly promoted by the government at that stage. Whoever can discern the direction of historical development, assess the situation, and follow the trend can become a business hero of that era. This may give some inspiration to our current entrepreneurs.

Industry.

From the industry column in the table, we find that businessmen's business can be roughly divided into two stages: simple "trailing" and operating manufacturing companies. In an agricultural society with underdeveloped transportation and information, merchants allocate limited resources more rationally geographically and temporally through the sale of goods, satisfying people's different material needs and promoting the development of the commodity economy.

With the development of society and the progress of the times, businessmen have followed the trend and turned to operating manufacturing enterprises. This is their magnificent turn to the real economy and a powerful counterattack against the "getting something for nothing" argument. It should not be denied that the enterprises they operated in the early days laid a certain economic foundation for China's later modernization development.

Achievements.

In addition to their own business, some businessmen are thinkers who contribute to the ideological treasure house of Chinese civilization; some are philanthropists who devote themselves to social welfare and educational undertakings; and some defend the country against foreign aggression and We have made due contributions to safeguarding territorial integrity. These are their outstanding achievements outside the business field, and they are also a denial of the conclusion that "being rich is unkind and treating wealth as life."

Therefore, we can draw a conclusion: the original sin of businessmen is a false proposition, and the predecessors have proved this beyond a doubt with facts. An industry itself is neutral, and it depends on the good and evil of its actions and the quality of its results, rather than the current trend of hatred against the rich, which will "beat a group of people to death with a stick." We have reason to call these ten sages great businessmen

Look through the dictionary to see the meaning of greatness: great: sublime and outstanding; huge and burly; sublime; majestic; admirable; magnificent; not great Ordinary.

Giving them such a "great" title should be well-deserved. By extension, the business industry represented by these ten people is a great industry. They are called the top ten wealthy businessmen in Chinese history. The word "big" here should not mean "powerful" as generally understood, but "great". Maybe we should call them: the ten great wealthy businessmen in Chinese history, which is more accurate.