明清徽州妇女对徽州商业的贡献

明清徽州地狭人稠,生存危机,在商品经济大潮的涌动下,大批男子出外经商寻求生计,获得了空前的成功。在徽商的兴起和发展过程中,徽州妇女发挥了重要的作用。在起始阶段,她们审时度势,因势利导,鼓励家人经商致富,并捐献妆奁,变卖田产,设法筹措扩充经商资本。在男性出外经商期间,徽州妇女辛苦持家,守身如玉,为其提供可靠的后方保障。她们还辛苦纺纱织布,采茶制茶,为徽商提供销往各地的日用商品。在特殊情况下,她们甚至走进市场,亲自经营,以维护家族商业的持续繁荣。明清徽州妇女对商业活动的广泛参与,在促成徽州商业总体辉煌的同时,也为女性自身的进一步发展开拓了空间。

Huizhou Women's Contributions to Trade Activity in Ming and Qing Dynasties

During Ming and Qing Dynasties, there was a large population in the small area of Huizhou;and with the development of commodity economy, a large number of men left their homes to do business. Many chastity women also got involved in trade activity. They eneouraged their family members to do business, or sold off the trousseaux or the paddies to raise the capital, or managed the household, or even did business themselves. They made great contributions to their families, to the trade activity, and to the development of society in Huizhou .