China’s market liberalization began in the Northern Song Dynasty.

The original literature and history Jun Haoran’s literature and history is included in the topic # China Ancient History 28# Here is Dasong 26.

In the first half of this year, the stall economy became a hot topic, and the commercial space changed greatly from comprehensive control to gradual liberalization. In the history of China, business has actually gone through a complicated process from a strictly restricted market to operating anywhere at any time. So when and how did this breakthrough come about?

First, the "commercial revolution" in the Northern Song Dynasty and the breaking of the boundary between Fang and Shi.

The ancient cities in China usually had the dual functions of political center of gravity and military fortress, but the commercial function could not be ignored. Since Shang Yang’s political reform, the policy of emphasizing agriculture and restraining commerce has been implemented, and the commodity economy has been submerged in the sea of small-scale peasant economy. But since the Song Dynasty, this situation has changed. It can be said that a commercial revolution was set off in Song Dynasty, which was the climax of commercial development.

The Market in Qingpingle

In this commercial revolution, the boundary between Fang and Shi was broken. Since the Warring States period, cities with commercial functions have emerged, and residential areas and commercial areas are strictly separated. Residential areas are called "squares" and commercial areas are called "cities". For example, the boundaries of Chang ‘an City in the Tang Dynasty were the strictest. The layout of Chang ‘an City is divided into three parts. The first part is residential area, namely Fang. The second block is the east city and the west city, that is, the city. The third block is a street that performs various functions, such as the emperor’s patrol and the criminals’ parade.

Plan of Chang ‘an City in Tang Dynasty

Why did the commercial revolution of the separation of Fang and Shi take place in the Northern Song Dynasty?

A very important reason is that the centralization of power in the Northern Song Dynasty was strengthened, and a large number of imperial troops were gathered near the capital. During the Qing Dynasty, there were 300,000 imperial troops, and their families basically lived in Tokyo. Moreover, the Song Dynasty did not restrain land annexation, which caused a large number of farmers to lose their land and had to flock to cities to make a living and become small traders or job seekers. Tokyo’s population explosion also needs more extensive material flow. The original East and West cities can’t meet the demand for material supply, which indirectly promotes the expansion of commercial scale, and a large number of markets rise on both sides of the Bianhe River.

the northern song dynasty

After the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, Song Taizu’s "relieving the soldiers with a glass of wine" actually used economic interests and privileges as compensation to induce ministers to voluntarily hand over power. Taizu said that "accumulating more money, silking fields and houses to bequeath children and grandchildren" was to encourage them to get rich in various ways, such as engaging in business. Therefore, many officials in the Song Dynasty had dual identities as businessmen. When officials have contact with business, they will actively break the boundaries of the market. In addition, the luxury of the royal family and dignitaries has become a common practice, and the extravagant consumption patterns have also promoted the growing commercial scale of Bianjing.

Song Taizu stills

Second, the square city to the market

The starting point of breaking Fangshi in the Northern Song Dynasty was the Didian on both sides of the Bianhe River. The food and daily necessities in Tokyo were transported from the Huaihe River by the Bianhe River, so the banks of the Bianhe River became the gateway to Beijing, and this generation became the priority development zone, with an increasing population, so the government and businessmen built houses along the Bianhe River and rented them to merchants. At that time, there were still many open spaces along the Bianhe River, so many "markets" were built on the open spaces, and when they went public, they were set up and the market was scattered.

Qingming Riverside Map Part

With the passage of time, these business models were gradually recognized by the imperial court. In order to make a profit, the government has gradually participated in commercial competition, such as opening government-run fruit shops, noodle shops and meat shops. Gradually, the banks of the Bianhe River are full of commercial points, and even the bridges are full of shops.

When I arrived in North Song Shenzong, I rectified these government-run markets and levied taxes on private shops according to the amount of land they occupied. But on the whole, the scale of these markets is getting bigger and bigger, and gradually formed a market.

Beisong street market

As early as the Tang Dynasty, the policy of Fangshi began to loosen, and people began to ignore the regulations of Fangshi. In Wu Zetian’s time, there were many businessmen living in the workshops around the east and west cities of Chang ‘an, so they also infiltrated their business activities into these workshops. For example, in Chongren Square, there are many places to make jade articles, so there are musical instrument shops. Yanshoufang has a jewelry store if it manufactures jade and gold and silver treasures. When I arrived in Tang Daizong, "Zhufang City Street has invaded the street and hit the wall, connected eaves and built houses". The government once ordered a ban, but it all went away. Not only in Chang ‘an, but also in some big economic cities at that time, such as Yangzhou, etc.

Tang Daizong

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, this phenomenon developed rapidly because the war-torn government had no time to govern the city, especially the square walls were basically destroyed. By the early Song Dynasty, although this kind of behavior was not allowed by laws and regulations, it was very common among the people. Song Taizong, want to restore the Tang system, and ordered to repair all the walls, but less than a year after the start of this work, he died, so the management relaxed again. By the time of Injong, the imperial court recognized the disintegration of the Fangshi system and fully liberalized Fangshi. China’s urban system has taken on a new look. When I went to Shenzong, I also collected taxes on shops occupying streets.

Song Renzong

Third, the chain reaction of the market

When the space limit is broken, the time limit is also broken. Since the establishment of the market system, the market has been open and closed regularly every day. By the second week, there was no longer a strict time limit for commercial transactions in Tokyo. The night market appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty. Song Taizu once ordered: "Imperial edict is issued to open the government, so that the night market in Beijing has come since the third drum, and it shall not be banned.". This shows that in the Northern Song Dynasty, the night market was already a legal commercial activity. In some prosperous areas at that time, it was often all night. For example, in Tokyo Dream of China, an introduction to the Northern Song Dynasty, the grand occasion of the night market is introduced. Every night, various food stalls are opened on the street, including crystal corners, sand ponds, ice and snow, eel buns and so on.

The Night Market in Qingpingle

With the transformation of Fang city to market, it has brought some chain effects in succession. The first is the elimination of city registration. Since the Warring States period, the city registration system has been implemented, and the government strictly restricts businessmen and the number of people entering the market to engage in commercial activities, thus ensuring the orderly operation within the priority scope. After Fangshi became a market, the city registration had no practical effect. People doing business in the market include princes and ministers, ordinary people and even royal nobles.

Businessmen’s identity restrictions have been broken, people from all walks of life are active in the market, and businessmen are no longer discriminated against. Compared with the previous generation, businessmen’s children can enter schools at all levels to study normally, take the imperial examinations, and even buy officials directly with money. Originally lowly businessmen gradually moved to the top of society, and merchants made friends with powerful people, and their social status was remarkable. Many people regard getting rich in business as their pursuit of life.

Wen Shijun said

The most primitive city appeared as a ruling tool, but because people gathered, it was inevitable to exchange activities, so the city always had the function of commerce. However, at first, the rulers should restrict the commercial development to maintain the ruling order. However, with the expansion of commercial scale, merchant groups will challenge the original order, which is a universal law of social development. This process in China took place in the Northern Song Dynasty, when the original boundary between the square and the city was broken, and the time, space and operators of commercial activities changed greatly. At the same time of these changes, people’s ideas began to change, the civic class began to rise, and China began to move towards modern times.

references

Lin Liping, Evolution of Businessmen’s Social Status in Tang and Song Dynasties, Historical Research, No.1, 1989.

Tian Yinsheng: Towards an Open City —— A Study of Tokyo Market in Song Dynasty, Sanlian Bookstore, 2011.

(Author: Haoran literature and history rotten Ke people) Original title: "The city has fully liberalized its operations, occupying roads and setting up stalls legally, and China’s market liberalization began in the Northern Song Dynasty."