Family Business in China, Volume 1

Unlike other economies, family businesses in China are greatly affected by the derived Confucian culture, excessive marketization, as well as the seemingly endless institutional supervision by a transitional Chinese government. China has a strong historical legacy, devoted to patriarchal values and strong family-centered traditions. This volume explores the social foundations and historical legacies of families, business families, and family businesses in China. It begins withan overview of a household, family, and clan in ancient China before an examination of theeconomic, social, and cultural functions that the family system served in Ancient China as well as the four unique features that distinguish the family system in ancient China from those in western societies. It later discussesthe evolution of the family system and the rise of family business before the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Finally, it evaluates thefamily system before and after the "Open-up and Reform" in 1978. This interdisciplinary work, incorporatingsociological, anthropological, and institutional contexts pertaining to China, offers researchers the first advanced perspective of the development of family firms in China.