The Research On Philanthropy Of Shan Xi Guild Hall In Qing Dynasty

Shan Xi Merchants was one of the important merchants during the Ming and QingDynasties in China and became the first Chinese business group because of its strongstrength, a wide range of active areas and a long active time. Shan Xi Merchantsconcentrated industrial and commercial towns, and they established their owncommercial Guild Hall as offices contacted the domiciled businessmen. The GuildHall had played an important role in the history of Shan Xi Merchants’ development.The purpose of Guild Hall which was a regional organization was “repaying thecharisms, contacting the local people’s feelings and doing charity”, however, thisthesis studies the charitable functions of Shan Xi Hall. Philanthropy of Shan Xi GuildHall was one kind of civil charity organizations. Shan Xi Guild Hall contacted thelocal people by organizing various charitable activities to promote the development ofthe cause of local people.The paper is divided into six parts. The first part is the introduction. First, thedefinition of Shan Xi Guild Hall and philanthropy is defined. Second, it reviews andcomments on the current academic research. And finally, on these bases, the purpose,significance and research methods of this article is raised.The first chapter is an overview of the introduction of Shan Xi Guild Hall. Thepart describes its origin, development, distributions and characteristics. Shan Xi GuildHall rose in the middle and late Ming Dynasty in Shan Xi, and flourished in the QingDynasty. The Shan Xi Hall was throughout the country, which was commensuratewith the situation that the Shan Xi businessmen’s footprints were all over the world.The Shan Xi Guild Hall had obvious regional and industry-specific characteristics,and it had built the theater. Kuan Kung was worshiped as the Lord God, so the hall ofShan Xi was also called “Guan Yu Temple”.The second, the third and the fourth chapter are the core part of the full text. Theyexplore the reasons for the Shan Xi Guild Hall Philanthropy thriving, content,management operations, characteristics and role in Qing Dynasty. Shan Xi Guild HallPhilanthropy showed a prosperous situation because it was affected by factors, suchas the traditional philanthropic ideas, government advocacy, development ofcommodity economy, rapid population growth pressure and Guild Hall members of their own interests. Purchasing and establishing cemetery, aiding the old and the sick,unemployment assistance, and investing education and helping poverty was maincontent of its charitable activities. Shan Xi Guild Hall had strict financial andorganizational management system. Its charitable activities had exclusiveness, gotprotection and support of local government, and also restricted by social environment.Shan Xi Guild Hall played a positive role in the aspects of purifying folkway,stabilizing the social order and increasing the cohesion of the Hall through carryingout charitable activities, but there are still some limitations.The sixth part is the conclusion of the full text. It briefly summarizes the full textand point out we should provide a fair evaluation of the Shan Xi Guild Hall charity.