A Study Of Modern Shanghai Pawnbroking

Pawnbroking is one of the oldest financial industries in Chinese history.It is also the only industry in the traditional financial industry that continues to this day.The pawnbroking industry in modern Shanghai gradually developed into one of the important cities of pawnbroking industry in China,with rich varieties and played an irreplaceable role in the history of modern Shanghai.Since Modern China,there has been a transformation of strength among Tien Tang,Pawnshop,Chih Tang,Ya Tang and Dai Bu.The Chinese Government’s regulation of pawnbroking shows a trend of restraining interest,and tries to change Ya Tang to Tien Tang.This logic of governance may be reasonable,but due to the political changes and economic ups and downs in Shanghai since the late Qing Dynasty,such efforts have not been successful.In addition,the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Concession was independent,and its governance concept is quite different from that of the Chinese government.On the contrary,the pawnbroking industry in the Concession developed rapidly,especially the Ya Tang.In order to facilitate civilian borrowing,on the one hand,all over the country began to raise Charity Pawnshop.On the other hand,the government continued to restrain interest rates,Shanghai pawnbroking industry gradually into difficulties,the survival of the more difficult.In order to deal with the dilemma,Tien Tang and Ya Tang began to cooperate and merger,and late Ya Tang became the main body of pawn industry.At the same time,the group of pawnbrokers in Modern Shanghai has also changed.The big businessmen with strong financial resources have gradually retreated,and the small businessmen who support their families have gradually increased.The pawnbroking industry in Modern Shanghai has been entangled between sympathizing with the people and businessmen,caring for charity and commerce.After entering the Republic of China,the government did not pay enough attention to the pawnbroking industry,with more restraining and less supporting,and increasingly regarded the pawnbroking industry as a semi-charity and semi-relief tool.As a commercial organization,pawnbroking has to undertake the responsibility of relieving the poor and facilitating the people,which inevitably leads to the dilemma between public welfare and profitmaking,and the discord between government officials and businessmen.In turn,it also reflects the absence of local government functions.