Early in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), China was still an agricultural society with an undeveloped commodity economy. Salt, at that time, was a necessity in people's daily lives, moreover, it was the most important commodity. In virtue of the abundant salt produced in Shanxi, the earliest Shanxi merchants arrived on the historical stage.
However, it was during the Ming and Qing dynasties that the Jinshang reached their period of great prosperity. Their footsteps not only covered China but reached Japan, Southeast Asia, Arabia and Europe. Their business interests ranged from salt, iron, cotton, silk and tea to various financial endeavours, including pawnshops, private banks and account bureaux.
In China's long history, agriculture was always regarded as primary activity while engaging in commerce was despised. "But once we have a better idea of Shanxi's social situation in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), we will be clear about why Shanxi people went against the common social practice andsintosbusiness," said professor Xing Long from Shanxi University.
The population of Shanxi had reached 4 million in the early Ming Dynasty, which was equal to the population of Hebei and Henan provinces.
On the other hand, Shanxi was a place lacking in land. The contradiction between a large population and poor land with few natural resource forced many people out of Shanxi to acquire what they needed in life by doing business.
Relying on nothing but their primitive vehicles, Shanxi merchants criss-crossed much of China about 400 years ago.
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