The Positive Effect Of Yaren And Yahang In Ming And Qing Dynasty

In the period of Ming and Qing Dynasty,trade and line-haul was developing fast and growing prosperous.In the background,Yaren and Yahang(trade agents or agency)appeared subsequently in cities,towns and countries,where they played an important role in trade field.However,for a long term the academe made little study on the Yaren and focused always on their negative effect.In this paper,the role that agents really took in that time will be given basically from the point of ‘positive' effect.The paper consists of three sections:Section 1 introduces the Yaren's arising background,development,and general situations.Since the Yaren's first involvement in,livestock trade during the Warring States Period(BC 403-BC221),they began to exert their power in trade area,undergoing developing stage and reaching peak during Ming and Qing Dynasty.In this period,the Yaren's group showed up with several features: large amount,multi-function,and function division clearly.The phenomenon results from the special background of that time,commercial trade developing,line-haul supporting,luxurious atmosphere and so on.Section 2 mainly narrates the Yaren's positive effect on the commercial trade.‘Commercial trade' is the deal among professional merchants,which is different from citizens exchanging.The positive effect on commercial trade: The Yaren can exchange the information during the process of trade and get a reasonable price,so that the trade can be realized successfully,besides it can accelarate the circulation at the same time.The advantage is very important for some goods that is easy to metamorphose.Without the Yaren,its price can't be realized,too.The positive effect on merchants: The Yaren can give some help to the merchants from different places,making the commercial trade more convenient.At times,the experienced Yaren can give merchants some necessary advice about the management.To some extent,the Yaren can ensure trading legitimatly and protect the benifits of merchants.So,the merchants pay more attention to the relationship with the Yaren and attach importance to the choices of Yaren.The positive effect on small workshops and farmers: Farmers and small workshops had to contact with Yaren closely during the Ming and Qing dynasty because they had more chances to exchange in the market.The advantages of Yaren can make up the disadvantages of farmers and keep trading successful.The good choice of the agent is helpful for farmers to trade.Besides,the advice and money that the Yaren provide reduce the troubles in trade.So,the YA is very important for small woorkshops and farmersSection 3 addresses the Yaren's positive effect on daily life.Convenience.They can help others rent houses,look for vehicles,hire fellows and look for the job.They can deal with this kind of matters as soon as possible.Legitimacy.The “huge trade” mainly means trade dwellings and land.It's the most important trade for daily life.The special Yaren is farmiliar with these rules and customs that citizens should obey in trade and know the contract and its process of establishment as well,so they can ensure the legitimate trade.Safety.Hold down the crime and ensure social stability.The Yaren have the ability of recording the information of merchants and their whereabouts.It not only can interdict them to offend the law and protect them at the same time,but also in favor of the social stability.Conclusion: The positive effect on merchandise exchange,merchants and small workshops(farmers)is not ignorable.Busy trade activities cannot be so successful and smoothly without Yaren.On the other side,the common life became more convenient because of Yaren.Though some negative effect is inevitable,the Yaren actually took a more positive role at that time.