摘要
China has experienced spectacular economic growth during the past three decades and seen some parts of the country, in particular the Yangzi Delta, swiftly converging with the developed countries in the level of economic development. This unprecedented growth has been seen as the greatest economic miracle in world history. This miracle is based on the economic performance of the Yangzi Delta in the long run of centuries. It is impossible to achieve a better understanding of the economic miracle of the delta without a better understanding of the basis created by the delta＇s economy during its long historical development, in particular in the centuries before the modern West arrived in the mid- nineteenth century. To achieve this objective, we must break free of the West-centric straightjacket and study China＇s early modern economy from a new perspective, which will be crucial to improve our knowledge of Chinese economic performance prior to the arrival of the West.
近30年来中国经济持续高速发展,尤其是现在江南的经济发展水平正在迅速接近西方发达国家,创造了世界历史上最伟大的经济奇迹,这个奇迹赖以产生的基础是此前几个世纪江南经济的持续发展和增长。为了正确认识今天的江南经济奇迹,就必须真正认识江南经济在长期的历史进程中所创造的历史基础;而要真正认识江南经济的过去,关键是正确认识江南在西方到来之前的经济状况,就必须抛弃西方中心论,从新的视野研究近代早期江南经济史。这对于改进我们关于西方到来之前中国"传统"经济的看法具有重要意义。
