China Logistics Modernization Research (1840-1949)

"Physical Distribution" is a modern economics and management concept which springs from the latter half of the 20th century, however, before the birth of this concept, traditional physical distribution activities had already existed in human society. For China, the same is true. In pre-modern traditional Chinese society, the practice of Physical distribution widely existed in all areas of social and economic life. For thousands of years, a wealth of traditional Physical distribution experience and thought has been accumulated. After the Opium War, with the changes of social political and economic system, the traditional Physical distribution also changed, which finally developed towards the direction of modernization and had a profound impact on Chinese society: on the one hand, as a leading engine of the modernization of China, the modernization of Physical distribution had enormous impetus for the progress of the modern Chinese politics, economy, and society, laying a good foundation for the development of China's modern industry and commerce; On the other hand, as to the revitalization of the current Chinese Physical distribution industry, the historical experience and lessons of the modernization of Physical distribution provide an important reference and benefit. However, the present researches of modernization of Physical distribution in China and abroad has been in a marginalized state. Both the breadth and depth of such researches are not enough. It is still in a relative lower level if comparing with other researches in the domain of economic history. Therefore, studies on modernization of Physical distribution in China not only merely a theoretical foundation for the modernization of physical distribution and provide theoretical base and reference for the modern development of physical distribution. Moreover, viewing from practical significance, studies on modernization of physical distribution can be used for reference and direction for the thriving of Physical distribution in China and the development of economy. In addition, it also contributes to promote and supplement the built of the studies of Chinese economic history and the subject of modern Physical distribution.Without using the traditional description in the order of historical time, this article combines the modernization theory with the theory and concept of modern Physical distribution in an innovative way, talking about the birth and impact of the modernization of Physical Distribution, in terms of technique-idea-system, a progressive development of modernization. Except the conclusion part, the whole passage is divided into six chapters. In the first chapter, the study significance, the idea of the topic selecting and research methods of the modernization of the Physical distribution is introduced. Still, it orders and evaluates the research of the predecessors, outlining the general ideas and the framework of the whole passage. In the second chapter, it sketches the backgrounds and environments of the birth of China's modern Physical Distribution, respectively from the four environments of history, nature, economy and politics, which presents a fundamental background elaboration for the research of China's Physical distribution modernization. It can be seen from Chapter Three to Chapter Five that this passage puts the change of materials and thoughts before that of the political and economic system. In the third chapter, it reviews the emergence and development of the technology of Physical distribution in China; in the fourth chapter it analyzes the three far-reaching trends of thoughts' impact on the modernization of Physical distribution in the development of Chinese modern history; and the fifth chapter focused on the political, economic system change associated with Physical Distribution. On the basis of full discussion of three aspects: the foundation of environments,the technological revolution and the promoting of thoughts which are necessary for the development of China's Physical Distribution, according to the three standards which are commonly identified with: the accumulation of industrial capital, the emergence of the capitalist wage-labor relations and the changes of dealing methods and management system, Chapter Five renders judgment upon the modernization of China's Physical distribution commencing from the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.So, for modern China, what is the significance of the modernization of Physical Distribution? This is an inevitable problem after we accept the truth of the modernization of Physical Distribution. In this paper, the sixth chapter answers this question, pointing out the modernization of the Physical distribution impact and significance on the modern Chinese market development, the city changes as well as the development of the ministry of the economy, such as industry and agriculture. The conclusion part unites and reflects over the whole passage, putting forward that the modernization of China's Physical distribution is a "latter-striking and outside-growing" model under the impetus of the two variables: historical tradition radiation and the Western demonstration effects. Then it makes evaluation on the modernization of China's Physical Distribution, pointing out that Physical distribution modernization is one of the hallmarks of the originator of China's modernization; sets forth on the imbalances of the development of the modernization of Physical Distribution; analyses obstacles encountered in the process of the modernization of Physical Distribution. Finally from the points of practical significance, it analyses the modernization of Physical distribution reference and inspiration to the revitalization of China's modern Physical distribution industry.