Primary Sources, Historical Collections

An authoritative and comprehensive study of the Chinese guild system, which played a crucial role in the country's economy and society for centuries. The book examines the origins, functions, and rituals of the gilds, as well as the relationship between the gild merchants and foreign traders in Canton. It also includes an extensive archive of primary sources, such as proclamations, contracts, and legal cases, which shed light on the everyday life of the gild members. The book is a must-read for sinologists, historians of economic institutions, and anyone interested in Chinese culture and civilization.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.