Primary Sources, Historical Collections: The Gilds of China, With an Account of The Gild Merchant or Co-hong of Canton, With a Foreword by T. S. Wentworth

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.

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