Top 10 regional merchant groups in ancient China
- By Zhang Junmian
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 16, 2011
Shaanxi Group 陜西商幫
Like their Shanxi and Huizhou counterparts, the Shaanxi merchants also prospered through the trade of salt during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A series of special economic policies implemented by the Ming imperial court to consolidate frontier defenses, and tea trading at the border areas, also created new wealth-making opportunities for them. With their advantages in geographical location and resources, The Shaanxi Group soon became a prominent guild, making ample profits in China for more than 300 years.
Shaanxi men were mainly engaged in salt trading, as well as the trading of cotton clothing, tea and fur. In order to compete with other merchant groups, the Shaanxi Group often combined its strengths with the neighboring Shanxi Group. However, it's commonly agreed that Shanxi Group performed much better than Shaanxi Group in all aspects. In addition, Shaanxi merchants were much more like traditional landlords, as they invested heavily in real estate as opposed to commercial goods.
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