2025/11/05 by Matthew Lowenstein, Zhou Ya, Ya Zhou +2
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · #Historical Economic and Social Studies #Chinese history and philosophy #Management Theory and Practice
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/00076791.2025.2555429
This article introduces ‘popular sources’ (民间文献 minjian wenxian)—original business records, ledgers, and correspondence from Chinese firms—that promise to transform the study of Chinese business history. Drawing primarily from the recently published 88-volume Jinshang shiliao jicheng collection of Shanxi merchant documents from the late imperial and Republican periods, the article outlines a six-step methodology for analysing these materials. Just as De Roover revolutionised European business history through Medici bank records, these sources enable a ‘bottom-up’ understanding of Chinese enterprise that challenges established assumptions about business practices. By illuminating internal operations and market relationships in unprecedented detail, these materials provide valuable insights not only for China specialists but also for scholars of global capitalism seeking meaningful comparisons between Western and non-Western business organisation. This study serves both as a methodological compass for scholars wishing to use these materials, while showcasing how they promise to reshape the field.