| The Ming-Qing Dynasty, in which the commodity economy wasprosperous and the influence of the merchant clan was strengthened,witnessed the Huizhou merchants occupied the main position in thecommercial circle. The merchants of JiXi, as a part of HuiZhou merchants,became the major force that promoted the economic growth and socialdevelopment. There were three elements made the influence of merchants ofJixi expand during the Ming-Qing Dynasty: firstly, the pressure of survivalincreased because of the restriction of the natural environment; secondly,doing business became more convenient since the traffic condition wasapproved; finally, the merchants of the neighboring cities forced themerchants of JiXi took up doing business. The Jixi merchants’ business fieldwas focus on the ink industry, the catering industry of HuiZhou，the teaindustry,the native product and general merchandise industry. The sphere ofJixi merchants’ activities covered the Jiangsu and Zhejiang province. Therising of the Jixi merchants was relatively late, and it formed the characterthat concentrating on the people’s livelihood industry and depending on theperipheral markets. The growth of the Jixi merchants, not only promoted thedevelopment of the local economy, but accelerated the evolution of the localsociety. |
