Since The Ming And Qing Dynasties From The Center To The Edge: Zhujing Economic And Social Transformation,

In the 16th century, the buds of capitalism of china was developed in the town ofJiangnan, which symboled that Chinese society stepped into a period of economic andsocial transformation. A system of the traditional commodity economy was forming,the center of which was Suzhou. Dependeding on its traditional resources, Zhujingtown adapted to the commodity economy development and was absorbed into themarket network of Jiangnan and even the whole country, becoming the central area ofJinshan county. During the process of the slow transformation, the economic center ofJiangnan transfered from Suzhou to Shanghai. As a result, the towns in Jiangnan tookon different fortunes. After Shanghai was opened, it replaced Suzhou becoming thenew increasing pole. The system of traditional towns began to divide. Some townswere syncretized into the system of economic development of Jiangnan, which hadtaken Shanghai as its center. And these towns developed continuously. But some othertowns lost their traditional advantage gradually. Their territorial center status weremarginalized. Although Zhujing town is located on the seaboard and it is near toShanghai, Zhujing town was not absorbed into the economic system of Shanghai. It issomewhat because of the various reasons of itself and the localization of Shanghai'seconomic outspread power. The social transformation of Zhujing town was stagnated,and it could not recover after a setback. It is obvious that the social transformation ofseaboard doesn't keep the same pace and the effect and radiation of the heartland isselective. The distance from heartland is not the decisive factor. The economic andsocial transformation is restricted by various and complicated factors. It needsconcrete analysis of the concrete conditions.