Civilizational Canons · LC12

Commerce

Caravans traversing the Silk Road, banknotes pioneering trade: tracing how ancient trans-regional merchant syndicates engineered the world's earliest commercial credit and trust networks.

Commerce gathers literary accounts of markets, merchants, exchange, currency, and commercial ethics. Jia Yi's Memorial on Elevating the Value of Grain considers staples and the state; Liu Zongyuan's Words of the Orange Seller turns a vendor into a moral parable; and a tale in Stories to Awaken the World follows a merchant's journey and fortune.

Representative works

Han · Chao Cuo · Essays & MemorialsMemorial on Elevating the Value of GrainThe people are guided by their ruler, seeking profit like water rushing downhill without hesitation. Pearls, jade, gold, and silver cannot be eaten when starving nor worn when freezing; yet people value them because the ruler cherishes them.LR10143Yuan · Liu Bowen · Essays & MemorialsWords of the Orange SellerGold and jade on the exterior, rotten rags within. Now you fail to discern the grand deceit of the realm, yet lecture on a damaged orange—is this not utter delusion?LR10245Ming · Ling Mengchu · Vernacular StoriesSlapping the Table in Amazement · The Fortunate Merchant and the Dongting Red OrangesThe unlucky merchant Wen Ruoxu spent a single silver tael on Dongting red oranges to sail overseas, selling them in the Kingdom of Jili for a thousand ounces of silver; on a deserted island he picked up a giant turtle shell, selling it to Persian merchants for fifty thousand taels—a miraculous reversal of fortune that amazed the world.LR10388Northern and Southern · Liu Yiqing · Tales of the StrangeA New Account of Tales of the World: Shi Chong and Wang Kai Vying in ExtravaganceAfter inspecting it, Shi Chong struck the coral tree with an iron ruyi wand, shattering it instantly. When Wang Kai grieved, Chong laughed: 'Nothing to lament, I shall repay you!' Ordering six or seven coral trees three to four feet tall brought forth, Wang Kai stood utterly dumbfounded.LR10154

Read by dynasty

Zhou

1046–256 BCE5 works
  1. The Spear and the ShieldHan Fei · Philosophers' FablesContradictory claims undo themselves; one boast can refute the other.
  2. Buying the Casket, Returning the PearlHan Fei · Philosophers' FablesJudging by the wrapping, you may throw away what truly has value.
  3. The Man of Zheng Buys ShoesHan Fei · Philosophers' FablesTrusting rules over reality makes you miss what is right in front of you.
  4. The Spear and the Shield ContradictHan Feizi · IdiomsA man boasts his spear pierces anything and his shield stops everything; self-contradiction in words or deeds.
  5. Buying the Casket, Returning the PearlHan Feizi · IdiomsValuing outward packaging over real substance; making a foolish choice.

Han

202 BCE – 220 CE2 works
  1. Memorial on Elevating the Value of GrainChao Cuo · Essays & MemorialsThe people are guided by their ruler, seeking profit like water rushing downhill without hesitation. Pearls, jade, gold, and silver cannot be eaten when starving nor worn when freezing; yet people value them because the ruler cherishes them.
  2. Living in Peace and Working in ContentmentBan Gu · IdiomsLiving in security and working happily at one's trade; a peaceful, well-ordered society.

Northern and Southern

420–5891 works
  1. A New Account of Tales of the World: Shi Chong and Wang Kai Vying in ExtravaganceLiu Yiqing · Tales of the StrangeAfter inspecting it, Shi Chong struck the coral tree with an iron ruyi wand, shattering it instantly. When Wang Kai grieved, Chong laughed: 'Nothing to lament, I shall repay you!' Ordering six or seven coral trees three to four feet tall brought forth, Wang Kai stood utterly dumbfounded.

Tang

618–9071 works
  1. Song of ChangganLi Bai · Old-Style SongsYou came riding a bamboo horse, circling the well-rail, playing with green plums.

Yuan

1271–13681 works
  1. Words of the Orange SellerLiu Bowen · Essays & MemorialsGold and jade on the exterior, rotten rags within. Now you fail to discern the grand deceit of the realm, yet lecture on a damaged orange—is this not utter delusion?

Ming

1368–16441 works
  1. Slapping the Table in Amazement · The Fortunate Merchant and the Dongting Red OrangesLing Mengchu · Vernacular StoriesThe unlucky merchant Wen Ruoxu spent a single silver tael on Dongting red oranges to sail overseas, selling them in the Kingdom of Jili for a thousand ounces of silver; on a deserted island he picked up a giant turtle shell, selling it to Persian merchants for fifty thousand taels—a miraculous reversal of fortune that amazed the world.