“绅商”词义考析

An Investigation of the Meaning of the Term Shenshang

从 1 9世纪中叶起 ,“绅商”一词已经流行于各种公私文献。但有一个值得注意的现象 ,即分指绅与商的例证较多 ,而单指性的例证较少且或多或少存在一些疑问。所以 ,“绅商”一词基本上是分指“绅”与“商” ,并未融合成一个单指性的混合词。在考析历史文献时 ,应注意“绅”与其他阶层 (官、商、学、军等 )组合时的不同语境 ;对“绅”分行业分地区的比较研究也应引起更多重视。

The term shenshang (gentry-merchant) frequently appeared from the middle of the 1900s in official and private literature. But one thing is worth notice: in most cases the term referred to both the gentry and the merchant together and rarely referred to one of them. Although doubts exists over the meaning of the term, it is basically certain that it referred to both groups as a whole for it had not developed into a compound word specifically refering to one category of people. In studies of historical literature, attention should be directed to the different contexts in which shen (gentry) was combined with different social categories (official, merchant, learned circles, military, etc.). Also, great importance should be attached to studies from the perspectives of groups from different walks of life and regions.