Study On The Marriage Of Wuyuan Merchants In Guangzhou In The Ming And Qing Dynasties

During the Ming and Qing dynasties,Wuyuan merchants carried out commercial activities in Guangdong and promoted the prosperity of Guangdong’s foreign trade.They lived in Guangzhou for a long time and carried out commercial activities and social interactions,and marriage was an important part of their commercial activities and social interactions.This paper focuses on the special group of Wuyuan merchants who lived in Guangzhou during Ming and Qing dynasties,and studies their marriages in Wuyuan and Guangzhou.After Canton System,the economic condition of Wuyuan which is not enough for self-sufficiency and the growth of foreign trade in Guangzhou jointly promote Wuyuan merchants to go to Guangzhou on a large scale,the characteristic products of Wuyuan and the surrounding areas make them engage in tea,ink and porcelain industries in Guangzhou.It is a continuous process for Wuyuan businessmen to go to Guangdong.The business activities of Wuyuan businessmen along the transportation road from Wuyuan to Guangdong during the Ming and Qing Dynasties laid the foundation for Wuyuan businessmen to do business in Guangdong after the "Canton System".Marriage concludes is the important link which the wuyuan merchant family’s interest develops,the wuyuan merchant family’s marriage in the county serves the family’s status promotion,the marriage in the place of business serves the need for the family to integrate into the commercial society.Although Wuyuan merchants who reside in Guangzhou have already married in Wuyuan,they still marry stepwives or concubines in Guangdong,forming a special marriage pattern of "two separated families ".