The Establishment Of Maritime Customs And The Prosperity Of Coastal Cities In Fujian In Early Qing Dynasty

The establishment of maritime customs and the permission of the oversras trade in early Qing Dynasty is the response of the Qing Dynasty ruler to the tide of history. It effectively impulse the process of modernization of Chinese society and promote the prosperity of the overseas trade and the extension of overseas market of China. On this basis, the economy of coastal area of China boomed rapidly. In early Qing Dynasty, the prosperity and development of coastal cities in Fujian had close connection with the instauration of maritime customs and the foreign trade. The foundation on which the city developed was the commercial trade in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and entrepot trade was an important condition of city development too. After the instauration of the maritime customs of Fujian, because its urban economy which set up on the basis of trade and business was growing, the urbanization process of the coastal cities of Fujian began to start too. The commercialization of the city made the economic structure and function of these cities change remarkably, industrial and commercial economy replaces the traditional agriculture turned into the important component of urban economy. After the establishment of maritime customs and the permission of the overseas trade, the economic factor caused extensive population to migrate in Fujian Province. The development of overseas trade of coastal cities expanded the commercial scopes of activities of these cities, with the enhancement of economic radiation , the suburb around these cities had been drawn in the process of the urbanization gradually.