On Si Maqian's Economic Views

Si maqian's "Records on Historians" is an epoch-making famous historic works and immortal literary masterpiece in Chinese history. Lu Xun once highly praised it as " the peak of history works and the rhythmless poetry named Li Sao" which strongly proves the top position of the works "Records on Historians" in the fields of history and literature. However, so far as its value is taken into consideration, it is far from being enough to regard him as a great historian and an outstanding literary genius. Besides the achievements he made in history, he made some contributions to the fields of philosophy, politics, economics, literature, astronomy, geography, aesthetics, personnel and ethics and so on. As his economic thoughts are taken into concern, he made great contributions not only to the development and completion of the collection of Chinese ancient economic thoughts and economic materials, but also to the explanations of the new economic thoughts. His economic theories and the views of values of the concern of humanity, the richness of the people and prosperity of the country, the civilization and strength of the society in opposition to the narrow economic views at that time have been shining with wisdom for thousands of years since then. In the present condition of opening and reform, Si Maqian's economic values are still worthy of our studying, researching especially when Market Economy is practical in China with thousands of years of traditional culture.Si Maqian grew up in the influence of the voluminous Early Qin culture and the lively culture of the early West Han Dynasty, hence his thought was formed on the base of the incorporation and adoption of the cream of confuciousism. He not only adopted the essence of Taoism to follow the natural rules, but also incorporated the cream of the Confucious -ism to enrich the country and to love the people. On the base of the highly incorporation of the two schools of thoughts, he put forward a set of far-sighted economic thoughts and theories. Compared with modern economic theories, Si Maqian's country macro-administration is the reflection of his general market economy view, that is, the government should not interfere too much with the economic activities. The development of the economy should be adjusted automatically by the economicrules. It is summarized in the language in Si Maqian's time as "the administration without interference". In his economic theory system, there are "thenatural administration theory"--to adjust the social economic life through theeconomic rules and the view of the framework of multi-industry, the theory of guidance according to the circumstances, the macro control of the economy of the country and the stand to emphasize benefits and lighten the morality in the economic activities..Si Maqian's economic views are drawn from the 70 years' practice of the development of economy in the early West Han Dynasty (from Han Gaozu to Han Jingdi period) and the theoretical conclusion of the administration policies "the rehabilitation of the people" in the beginning of the Han Dynasty. His economic views are the full explanations to the problems -the policies of the administration of industries in the development of economy. He held the opinion that the government should adopt " guidance according to the environment" to develop the economy, and should interfere with the economic activities as little as possible. He objected to the government's struggling for benefits with the farmers. In the general layout of the economy he advocated that equal attention should be paid to each of these industries, namely, agriculture, industry, commerce and respectively. He was against the policies and views to stress agriculture and weaken commerce. In the avenue to obtain properties, he affirmed and held in esteem the commercial activities with the purpose of the value increase of the merchandize. He felt that the activities to seek the richness could make the country rich and prosperous, but also the display of the innate abilities of huma...