盐商大安旗、广德旗家世及活动述略

On the Family History and Avtivities of the Salt Merchants Da’an and Guangde

清代扬州大安旗盐号,始于明末清初的陕西临潼张世荫的父亲,后由张世荫继承并传长房子孙张霞一支。广德旗盐号,则由张世荫之次房孙张兰于乾隆前期创建,延续至嘉庆末年。张霞、张兰均为一流总商。张世荫弟感梦建造秋雨庵,聘僧人主持,张霞、张兰等渐次捐金,常游憩于此,人称张家庵,乃张氏接待文士之地。大安旗、广德旗均建戏曲家班以迎奉皇帝南巡,相关史料极有价值。张兰两位弟弟张馨、张坦走入仕途,交游甚广,故获显宦钱陈群、毕沅撰写家族文章。张兰身后孙媳“夫亡入张门”一事,引发扬城关于“贞女”的讨论。

The salt merchant Da’an in Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty originated from Zhang Shiyin’s father in Lintong,Shaanxi province in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty,was inherited by Zhang Shiyin and passed on to Zhang Xia,a descendant of the eldest branch.The salt merchant Guangde was founded by Zhang Lan,grandson of the second wife of Zhang Shiyin,in the early Qianlong period and continued to the late Jiaqing period.Both Zhang Xia and Zhang Lan were extraordinary general merchants.Inspired by his dream,Zhang Shiyin’s younger brother built the Qiuyu Nunnery and hired monks to preside over the construction.Zhang Xia,Zhang Lan and other family members made several donations to the nunnery and the Qiuyu Nunnery was later known as the Zhang’s Nunnery,where the Zhangs often visited,received and entertained scholars.The Da’an and the Guangde both kept family opera troupes to welcome the emperor’s southern tour,relevant with valuable historical materials.Zhang Xin and Zhang Tan,two younger brothers of Zhang Lan,became government officials and were well connected,therefore the prominent officials Qian Chenqun and Bi Yuan offered to write the Zhangs’family stories.The late Zhanglan’s granddaughter-in-law married the Zhangs after her husband’s death,which triggered quite a discussion about chastity in the city of Yangzhou.