清末文献中的广东“绅商”

Shenshang of Guangdong in Late Qing Literature

清末广东文献中“绅”、“商”以及“绅商”身份认同存在各种情况。商人捐纳虚衔 ,其士绅的身份并非随时会被认同。某个具体的“绅商”主要被认同为“绅”或“商” ,有各种不同的情况。清末广东“绅”与“商”对流、联合的情况已经很普遍 ,形成了人数颇多、影响颇大的亦绅亦商群体。但“绅”、“商”毕竟没有合流 ,保持界限、经常竞争是“绅”与“商”关系的主要方面 ,“绅”、“商”

Shen (gentry), shang (merchants) and shenshang in late Qing literature indicated different identities under different conditions. Sometimes a merchant bought the title of shen, but his right to the status of gentry was not always recognized. A man who was called shenshang might be recognized either as a member of the gentry or a merchant, but it all depended on his own specific case. During the late Qing, it was common for a member of the gentry to become a merchant and vice versa, with the result that a large influential group appeared, its members simultaneously belonging to both the ranks of the gentry and merchants. However, the gentry and merchants were in the main not integrated and distance and competition characterized their general relationships. The general trend was the rise of the merchants' position and the decline of the gentry's role.