Day to Day Life of a Merchant
A Merchant’s life was considered to be challenging. There was not a lot of respect for merchants and traders in ancient Chinese society. They could achieve significant wealth, but they were held in low esteem because they did not produce anything, and only transported and traded goods made by others.
They lived in towns and provided goods and services to the landowners. Sometimes merchants bought land in order to be considered a farmer and therefore command more respect in society. Some would buy a good education for their descendants so they could attain the status of scholars.
They were not allowed to carry weapons, travel in carriages, ride horses or wear any elaborate clothing such as silk. Sometimes they were even made to live outside the town walls. During the Han dynasty, merchants became so wealthy that they were considered a threat to the emperor and the nobles. In order to limit their wealth, merchants had certain restrictions placed on them. They were taxed heavily on their land and goods and could be sent away to join the army.
The richest merchants obtained their wealth by investing their money in land. There were also many merchants who were not as wealthy who lived a quiet and simple life and lived off their smaller profit. e.g. Shopkeeper.
Although traders, merchants and peddlers were viewed as essential members of society, they were the lowest of the ancient Chinese social structure due to popular perception of these people as greedy and immoral.
They lived in towns and provided goods and services to the landowners. Sometimes merchants bought land in order to be considered a farmer and therefore command more respect in society. Some would buy a good education for their descendants so they could attain the status of scholars.
They were not allowed to carry weapons, travel in carriages, ride horses or wear any elaborate clothing such as silk. Sometimes they were even made to live outside the town walls. During the Han dynasty, merchants became so wealthy that they were considered a threat to the emperor and the nobles. In order to limit their wealth, merchants had certain restrictions placed on them. They were taxed heavily on their land and goods and could be sent away to join the army.
The richest merchants obtained their wealth by investing their money in land. There were also many merchants who were not as wealthy who lived a quiet and simple life and lived off their smaller profit. e.g. Shopkeeper.
Although traders, merchants and peddlers were viewed as essential members of society, they were the lowest of the ancient Chinese social structure due to popular perception of these people as greedy and immoral.