Chinese Hinterland Capitalism and Shanxi Piaohao: Banking, State, and Family, 1720-1910

This book explores Shanxi piaohao, private financiers from the Chinese hinterland, in late imperial China's economic and business history, forming the original theory of Chinese hinterland capitalism. It highlights their expansionist role in transforming China's market and trade from an agrarian empire to a modern nation-state. It also focuses on the lives of the people and their lifeworlds behind financial institutions, challenging binary oppositions between coastal areas, hinterland, state, and market. Based on archival material and correspondence with Shanxi piaohao offices and branches, the book appeals to students and scholars of Chinese and economic history, anthropology, and postcolonial studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of Shanxi piaohao, private financiers hailing from the Chinese hinterland, and their profound impact on the economic and business history of late imperial China. By examining these individuals, the author develops a groundbreaking theory of Chinese hinterland capitalism, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of capitalist expansion within the families and financial institutions of this era.

Through a meticulous exploration of the lives and worldviews of the people behind financial institutions, which have often been overshadowed by universal capitalist narratives, the book challenges prevailing binary oppositions. It uncovers the local histories of global capital in the marginalized countryside and borderlands of China, transcending the boundaries between coastal areas, hinterlands, states, and markets.

Drawing upon a wealth of archival material and engaging in extensive correspondence with Shanxi piaohao offices and branches, Chinese Hinterland Capitalism and Shanxi Piaohao offers a rich and detailed account of this overlooked chapter in Chinese history. This book will captivate students and scholars of Chinese and economic history, anthropology, and postcolonial studies, providing a valuable perspective on the complex interplay between finance, power, and society in late imperial China.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367551360